Executive Staff
Sheriff Terron Hayes
Sheriff Terron K. Hayes is a native of Moultrie, Georgia, where he attended Colquitt County High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, with a Minor in Psychology from Albany State University.
While pursuing his college degree, Chief Hayes served with the Albany Police Department (APD) as a Police Corporal. He also held leadership roles as the President of the School Resource Officer Program and Regional Director for the Georgia Association of School Resource Officers. Additionally, he was a member of the Georgia Gang Investigator Association, working within APD's Uniform and Investigative Divisions.
Sheriff Hayes later joined the Dougherty County School System Police Department, serving as a Police Lieutenant and Supervisor/Coordinator of the Gang Resistance Education And Training Program (G.R.E.A.T.), Supervisor of the Police Against Crime (P.A.C.) & Students Against Violence (S.A.V.) Programs.
When he transitioned to the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, he initially took over as assistant director of the youth division as a Sergeant. After years of dedicated service in the youth division, he was promoted to Director of the youth division. His leadership and commitment led to further promotions, first to the rank of Lieutenant, and then later promoted to Captain, before achieving the rank of Chief Deputy. Now serving as the 19th Sheriff of Dougherty County, Sheriff Hayes continues his dedication to public safety, youth outreach, and community engagement.
Hayes is a member The 100 Black Men of Greater Southwest Georgia Area, where he currently serves as Director of Programs. He is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (April 28, 2004), where he serves as Immediate Past Basileus for Eta Omicron Graduate Chapter and Former Region II Representative for the State Council of Georgia for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Hayes also serves as the Chief Security to the 7th District Representative and Co-Director of the National Security Team for Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. He is a 2014 Martin Luther King Dream Award Recipient and 2019 Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Awardee.
Holding a wealth of community involvement throughout his career, Hayes provides motivational speaking, community/youth program implementation, youth adolescence and behavioral health, intervention and prevention programs, youth mentoring, gang identification and recognition, and community-oriented policing concepts.
Hayes is married to his wife Connie and they are the proud parents of two loving daughters, Kirsten and Karli. He and his family reside in the Good Life City of Albany, Georgia, where he enjoys traveling, golfing, reading and spending quality time with his family.
John Ostrander, Chief Deputy
John Ostrander began his law enforcement career in August, 1981, in the United States Army Military Police Corp. Having attended the Military Police Academy at Ft. McClellan, AL, he was stationed at the European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, then later at Ft. Meade, MD (home of NSA Headquarters). Changing services upon re-enlistment, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and after attending the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy was assigned to the USCGC Vigilant, working as a law enforcement boarding officer and telecommunications specialist; performing narcotics interdiction throughout the Caribbean and Yucatan Basin. After serving in the military, he settled in Dougherty County and began his employment with the Sheriff’s Office in 1989.
Chief Ostrander began his Sheriff’s Office career working in the jail, which was an old facility designed for about 200 inmates. This facility was replaced in 1995 with a much larger facility, which currently can hold up to 1230 inmates. Chief Ostrander was assigned to the new facility as it was being built and worked to develop the policies and procedures necessary to operate the facility. He then worked to develop the training necessary to train all of the new staff being hired to work the larger jail. Chief Ostrander was assigned to the Training Division as Sergeant in 1994 and was soon promoted to Training Director (Captain) in 1996. He held this position until his promotion to Colonel in 2010 when he assumed role of Jail Director. In January, 2025, Sheriff Hayes appointed him as Chief Deputy.
Colonel Pamela Coley, Chief Jailer
Colonel Pamela Jinks Coley is a native of Albany, Georgia, where she attended Dougherty Comprehensive High School. She is the daughter of Walter & Mareatha Jinks Jr. Colonel Coley subsequently earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Grantham University and pursued further studies in Theology at Liberty University.
Colonel Coley has been the embodiment of integrity and dedication to this community for the past 28 years. She began her tenure as a detention officer at the Dougherty County Sheriff Office in October 1996. She obtained her peace officer certification in 1999, following her graduation from the Tifton Regional Police Academy. She advanced through the ranks as an intake sergeant from 1999 to 2007, lieutenant- assist watch commander from 2007 to 2009, captain- intake commander from 2009 to 2023, major-assistant chief jailer from 2023 to 2024.
Currently, Colonel Coley is the first African American and first woman to serve as the chief jailer for the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office. This role is responsible for the daily operations of a 1230-bed jail facility with a staff of approximately 211.
Additionally, Colonel Coley serves on the Dougherty County Retirement Committee, the Albany Technical College Criminal Justice Advisory Board. She is the Chairperson of the County Risk Management Safety Committee, and the Georgia Sheriffs Association Jail Management Advisory Board Regional Representative.
Colonel Coley is married to Pastor Timothy Coley, and they are the proud parents of three sons, Vantrel McMillan, Jawuan Jinks, and Timothy Coley Jr., and two daughters, Jasmine Rosman and Dominque Coley. She is a woman of faith who serves as a member of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and the Elect Lady at the Union Missionary Baptist Church in Morgan, Georgia, and the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church of Leary, Georgia. She actively participates in the mentoring program for girls, The Shoes that Lead. Colonel Coley and her family currently reside in Albany, Georgia.