Welcome to the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office Website

Know Your Sheriff

Chad Hawkins is a lifelong resident of Gaston County with over 34 years of dedicated service in public safety, spanning both fire and law enforcement. His commitment to the community is evident through his work with multiple local departments, including the McAdenville and Cramerton Fire Departments, and the Cramerton, Lowell, Gastonia, Cherryville, and Belmont Police Departments. In addition to his law enforcement service, he also served on the Lowell City Council.
Chad has held the position of Police Chief since 2013. He led the Cherryville Police Department for four years during a critical period of recovery for the community and later served as the Chief of Police for the Belmont Police Department from 2017 until 2022.

Chad’s educational background includes an Associate Degree from Gaston College, a Bachelor of Science from Gardner-Webb University, and a Master’s degree in Justice Administration from Methodist University. He is also a committed educator, serving as an adjunct professor at Gardner-V. University and Gaston College.

In addition to his leadership roles, Chad is a certified North Carolina General Instructor and holds multiple specialized instructional certifications including: Specialized Driver Instructor, Police Training Officer Instructor, R.I.T.E. (Racial Intelligence Training & Engagement) Instructor, Emotional Intelligence/ Problem-Based Learning Instructor, and North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Instructor.

Above all, Chad is a proud father to two children, Christian and Kayla, and remains deeply committed to the safety, education, and well- being of the communities he serves.