Shaquille O'Neal Promoted To Chief Role With Henry County Sheriff's Office

HENRY COUNTY, GA — Basketball legend and media personality Shaquille O'Neal has been promoted to a new role with the Henry County Sheriff's Department, the agency said on Friday.

On Christmas Day, Sheriff Reginald Scandrett announced O’Neal will now serve as the agency's chief of community relations, an expanded leadership role that Scandrett described as being "rooted in one simple mission: strengthening community trust through consistent, visible service."

"For the past five years, O’Neal has served as our director of community relations, and what he’s helped build is more than 'community outreach' — it’s a measurable model of presence and partnership," Scandrett said.

Before his promotion, O'Neal, who has had various stints in law enforcement over the past two decades, spent five years as the Henry County Sheriff's Department's director of community relations.

Under his leadership, Scandrett said the agency was involved in approximately 370 community events, provided more than 25,000 meals to local families, distributed 15,000 gifts to children, and recorded more than 42,000 community interactions.

"When relationships are strong, communication improves, cooperation increases and prevention becomes possible," Scandrett said. "This promotion recognizes the impact already made and positions us to expand that work even further across Henry County."

In addition to his role with the Henry County Sheriff's Department, O'Neal is a local presence in the Atlanta area. He owns several homes in the county and also owns multiple Papa John's franchises and a Krispy Kreme in Atlanta.

He is also the owner of The Shaquille O'Neal Foundation, which was established in 2019 to help underserved youth. While primarily partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs and Communities in Schools, the Foundation simultaneously supports Shaquille's other charitable endeavors, such as his annual Shaq-a-Claus holiday event and initiatives.