Sheriff’s Office Releases Final Numbers for 2025
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) handled thousands of calls for service, made hundreds of arrests and completed extensive training during its first full year under Sheriff Zak Benge, according to year-end totals released this week.
Benge said 2025 marked the department’s first year under his administration, during which the office focused on operational improvements and equipment upgrades while maintaining day-to-day law enforcement duties.
“We were extremely busy making adjustments needed to move the office forward,” Benge said in a statement.
According to the report, patrol deputies responded to 7,828 calls for service, conducted 2,542 traffic stops, wrote 661 reports and made 401 arrests during the year. Deputies also completed 289 inmate transports and served 130 warrants.
Call statistics released by the sheriff’s office show deputies responded to 167 thefts, 45 burglaries, 69 assaults and 131 criminal trespass cases. Other calls included 506 animal or stray incidents, 315 traffic accidents, 146 welfare concerns, 138 alarm calls, 38 suicidal person calls and 23 death investigations.
The sheriff’s office also reported a significant workload in dispatch operations. Dispatchers handled 24,893 calls for service, including 13,584 emergency 911 calls in 2025.
At the Houston County Jail, 1,261 inmates were booked and released during the year. Administrative staff processed 684 bonds and handled 169 sex offender registrations and check-ins, according to the report.
Training was another major focus, with jail staff completing 1,512 hours of training, deputies logging 754 hours, and dispatch personnel completing 44 hours.
Benge noted the department received donated, grant-funded and county-funded equipment during the year, including in-car cameras, radar units, body-worn cameras, rifle-resistant and soft body armor, new patrol vehicles, uniforms and department-issued pistols.
He said the sheriff’s office plans to continue building on those improvements in the coming year.
“We look forward to the coming year, and the work will continue to keep the Houston County Sheriff’s Office moving forward,” Benge said.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
