COMMUNITY RELATIONS

PROGRAMS

For over 25 years, the Henry County Sheriff's Office has been presenting community education programs. The Community Relations Unit has developed a wide range of topics that cover today's citizens' issues. Each program is delivered by a deputy who has been trained in crime prevention and program presentation. Along with these programs, the Community Relations Unit conducts public awareness events out in the community. All programs are available to any group upon request. We can also develop plans to accommodate almost any topic. Our goal at the Sheriff's Office is to help you become more familiar with laws and law enforcement in order to make Henry County a safer place. Below is a list of some of the programs available through our agency.   If you need further information, please call Sergeant Stephen Chance in Community Relations at (770) 288-7141.

  • Sheriff's Youth Summer Camp

    Introduced in 2010, this program is intended for children from all backgrounds between the ages of 12 through 14.  This 4-day long activity-packed program runs from 8 a.m. and until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  Topics include a variety of fun indoor and outdoor activities but are also packed with safety and security educational-based programs.  The purpose is so that when these children are away from home and are faced with difficult decisions in their lives they will know they can reach out to law-enforcement help or guidance.  Applications will be made available up to one month before the start of summer camp and will be accepted in the order they are received

  • McGruff the Crime Dog

    For over 25 years, McGruff the Crime Dog has been educating kids and teens on safety issues.  Today, more than 93% of children recognize McGruff, the trenchcoat-wearing hound dog.  The goal of McGruff is to bring a higher awareness to the fight against crime.  McGruff is available for daycares and public awareness events in the community.

  • Church Security and Safety

    In today's world, even the sanctuary of a place of worship may be a target for criminals. To help congregations learn to identify and deal with a variety of situations this program was created in two parts:


    Part 1 - In this introduction, we inform church leaders and committee members of the facts on the safety and security crises at churches throughout the country. This includes potential vulnerabilities and the real consequences of doing nothing.

    Part 2 - This section is an on-site evaluation of the potential weaknesses and to assist in the development of security teams and the creation of a Security and Safety Operational Plan. A well-developed plan may save your congregation money in the form of insurance reductions and reduced liability.


    Provided documents - As part of the program, the Sheriff's Office will provide copies of the program to share with your congregation as well as a model Safety and Security plan (in Word format) for your team to modify for your specific property needs.

  • Work Place Violence

    The purpose of this program is to help businesses educate their employees on how to recognize volatile situations that could lead to violence and how to deal with or diffuse the situation.

  • Business Watch

    This program is designed to make business owners and employees aware of the pitfalls and patterns businesses fall into that criminals look for to prey on them. It is designed to help business owners and employees become more acquainted with other businesses nearby so they can watch out for each other.

  • Senior Citizen Awareness

    This monthly program, held at Heritage Park and Hidden Valley Senior Centers, is designed to educate senior citizens on the scams and schemes that law-enforcement are aware of and help them identify potential financial risk.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

In his long, varied and well-publicized career in the spotlight, Shaquille O’Neal has consistently supported and embraced law enforcement. Now, as a resident of Henry County, he is again aligning himself with the local sheriff’s office.


But his role as Director of Community Relations will be much more than ceremonial, he's fully committed to bridging the gap between Henry County community and it's sheriff's office.