In what is certainly the first major local development related to the 2020 elections, Henry County Sheriff Keith McBrayer announced over the weekend that he will retire at the end of his current term.
McBrayer released a statement March 30 expressing his gratitude to county residents for the opportunity to serve what will ultimately be a 12-year tenure as sheriff and 45 years in law enforcement when his term ends Dec. 31, 2020.
“It has been a great pleasure to have served the citizens of this county for my entire career,” he stated.
Starting at 18 years of age as a detention officer in 1975, when Henry County was a much different place (about one-eighth of its current population), he moved up the ranks and assumed several different roles, including SWAT commander, and eventually attaining the rank of major and leading the Field Operations Division.
McBrayer is the 37th sheriff in the history of Henry County and only the second in nearly 40 years. He succeeded Donald Chaffin, who was in office from 1982 until his own retirement. McBrayer took office after winning the 2008 election with Chaffin’s endorsement.
“I am so proud of this agency and what we have been able to accomplish,” said McBrayer. “I can only hope that Henry County’s next sheriff will serve with integrity, dignity and honor.”
McBrayer was born and grew up in Henry County, where his family has lived for seven generations. His father served on the Hampton City Council for nearly four decades. The sheriff mentioned in his statement that he will work hard until his final day in office but is looking forward to spending more time with his family, which includes four grandchildren.
Interestingly, only one person has publicly expressed interest in the job. That would be basketball star-turned-TV commentator Shaquille O’Neal, who has a home in McDonough and was quoted in a 2017 Washington Post story that he would run for sheriff in 2020. O’Neal has been a reserve deputy in Clayton County and has held similar positions in other jurisdictions. While is is uncertain whether O’Neal will follow through on that statement or whoever else will step up next year, McBrayer’s statement included a telling comment with regard to his potential successor: “This is a job that requires a vast amount of law enforcement experience.”
