Shaquille O’Neal’s relationship with law enforcement in Henry County, Georgia, just took a major step forward.
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, after five years of hands-on work with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the NBA legend has been promoted to Chief of Community Relations, a role that formally recognizes, officials say, what has already been happening on the ground for years.
The announcement came on Christmas Day during ESPN’s NBA broadcast, when Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett joined O’Neal on air to share the news. Scandrett said the promotion was about “giving honor where honor is due,” highlighting O’Neal’s leadership and consistency since joining the department in early 2020.
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Previously serving as Director of Community Relations, Shaq helped expand outreach efforts to build trust between residents and deputies. According to the sheriff’s office, those efforts included more than 370 documented community events, the distribution of roughly 25,000 meals to local families, and more than 15,000 gifts for children across Henry County. Officials also cited more than 42,000 recorded interactions between law enforcement and community members during that period.
“With gratitude for your leadership, compassion, and unwavering support of our mission to protect and serve, we proudly acknowledge your promotion to chief of community relations,” Scandrett said while reading from a plaque presented to O’Neal. Shaq responded with a salute before accepting the honor.
Henry County, located about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta, has leaned heavily into community-focused policing in recent years. The sheriff’s office says O’Neal’s new title reflects its belief that public safety starts with trust and visibility, not just enforcement.
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O’Neal has long said the role fits naturally with how he’s lived his life beyond basketball. “When I played in the NBA for 19 years, this is what I did in every community I lived in,” he said in a video shared by the department. “A lot of people asked me why I took the job, and I asked them, ‘Why not?’”