Paul Burch
Republican · AL · Mobile County Sheriff
Paul Burch has been Mobile County Sheriff since January 2023 after rising from patrol deputy to chief deputy, and is a Navy veteran and FBI National Academy graduate. His priorities are targeting violent crime and gangs, and adding school resource deputies to every middle and high school.
Where Paul Burch stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (8 records)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 8 support
Had deputies catalog Prichard’s neglected evidence, including 148 untested sexual-assault kits, and secured FBI help to examine them.
July 9, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Took over Prichard policing at the district attorney’s request after an officer faced federal corruption charges.
June 16, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Joined county officials in launching mental-health officers to help deputies handle nonviolent crises without unnecessary arrests.
January 28, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: probate.mobilecountyal.gov
Agreed to have sheriff’s deputies investigate Prichard’s homicides, weapon assaults, and sexual assaults.
December 3, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Deployed armed deputies to Mobile County public schools under a $1.8 million safety program.
January 5, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Created a Prichard crime unit that reported 87 arrests and 27 seized guns by June.
June 28, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Co-signed a letter urging tougher gang-crime sentences and adult prosecution for defendants age 16 and older.
April 11, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: alabamaag.gov
Assigned two investigators full time to fentanyl cases after a teen died from an overdose.
October 7, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: fox10tv.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Endorsed Jerry Carl in Alabama’s 2026 First Congressional District special primary.
August 4, 2026
Source: southalnews.com
Won a court ruling dismissing a former employee’s race- and bankruptcy-discrimination claims over her firing.
May 22, 2026
Source: cases.justia.com
Signed an agreement allowing trained Mobile deputies to perform limited federal immigration-enforcement duties.
July 23, 2025
Source: raw.githubusercontent.com
Co-signed a letter urging the governor to reappoint Leigh Gwathney as state parole-board chair.
June 30, 2025
Source: content.govdelivery.com
Warned of force against protesters who attack officers, then clarified that he expected Mobile’s rally to be peaceful.
June 11, 2025
Source: fox10tv.com
Endorsed Caroleene Dobson in Alabama’s 2024 Republican congressional runoff.
March 20, 2024
Source: yellowhammernews.com
Launched an operation targeting public marijuana use, directing deputies to arrest people using it in public or vehicles.
March 12, 2024
Source: fox10tv.com
Settled an inherited federal lawsuit over harassment of female jail staff, agreeing to pay $2.02 million and change jail policies.
September 19, 2023
Source: justice.gov
Investigated an employee’s inflated overtime claims and referred the findings to the district attorney.
May 18, 2023
Source: fox10tv.com
Defended his office’s seizure of $323,000 from an uncharged truck driver, citing suspected drug ties.
May 10, 2023
Source: fox10tv.com
Urged county commissioners to raise deputy pay so the sheriff’s office could retain experienced officers.
October 10, 2016
Source: mobilecountyal.gov
Warned county commissioners that rising health-insurance costs were driving experienced sheriff’s employees away.
May 27, 2014
Source: mobilecountyal.gov
Past race Paul Burch ran in:
- Mobile County Sheriff · November 3, 2026 · Mobile County, Alabama · incumbent