By Joanna Putman
Police1
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton, believed to be America’s longest-serving sheriff, has died at age 92, WMAZ reported.
Talton passed away peacefully at his home Saturday morning, according to a statement from Houston County sheriff candidate Matt Moulton.
Talton was elected sheriff in 1972 and served Houston County for over 50 years, according to the report. Before becoming sheriff, Talton was a county commissioner with no prior law enforcement experience. Under his leadership, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office grew from 28 employees to more than 300, adapting to technological changes and evolving crime trends.
Governor Brian Kemp expressed condolences on social media, honoring Talton’s decades of public service.
“Marty, the girls and I are saddened by the passing of America’s longest-serving sheriff, Houston County Sheriff Cullen Talton,” Kemp said in a statement. “For nearly 52 years, Sheriff Talton remained committed to serving and protecting the people of his community,” Kemp wrote. “He became a beloved fixture of Georgia law enforcement.”
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Talton announced in September 2023 that his 13th term would be his last, marking the end of an era. At the time, Houston County commissioners called Talton the longest-serving sheriff not only in Georgia, but in the United States.
In 2018, Talton was named Georgia Sheriff of the Year, recognizing his long and successful career, according to the report. Talton’s leadership included the construction of a new detention center and the expansion of services offered by the sheriff’s office. His death marks the end of a historic tenure in Houston County.
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