Towns County Residents Left in Limbo with Latest Sheriff's Office Shakeup

HIAWASSEE, Ga. — Towns County residents are left with immediate uncertainty over local law enforcement and longer-term questions about oversight and public trust after Sheriff Kenneth “Ken” Henderson was suspended by the governor, indicted by a grand jury and booked on multiple charges stemming from a December 2024 confrontation at a shooting scene.

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered a 60-day suspension of Henderson earlier this month while state authorities investigated the episode. This week a Towns County grand jury returned a seven-count indictment that includes multiple counts of violating the oath of a public officer, false imprisonment and battery related to an altercation with a Hiawassee police officer. Henderson surrendered to authorities, was booked and released on his own recognizance pending prosecution.

What this means for county residents

Short term, the most visible change is leadership: the chief judge of Towns County Superior Court has sworn in Anthony Coleman, a retired Georgia State Patrol lieutenant and Hiawassee native, as interim sheriff to keep the office functioning while Henderson’s legal matters proceed. The appointment is meant to maintain day-to-day operations, but it also signals a period of transition that could affect community policing initiatives, staffing decisions and public-safety planning.

The indictments — and the related indictments announced this week involving a deputy whose reported wound is now under scrutiny — have raised immediate questions about how the sheriff’s office handles scene management, inter-agency cooperation and use-of-force and evidence procedures. Residents who rely on steady 911 response and court security could see temporary policy reviews or procedural audits while the department and the state review what happened.

Reactions on social media have been sharply divided. Some residents and supporters have fiercely defended Henderson, describing him as a “good man caught in a political storm” and calling for due process. Others have already pronounced him guilty in their eyes, posting messages demanding his resignation and questioning the integrity of the sheriff’s office. The split underscores the tension between loyalty to a longtime local figure and growing frustration among those who want a swift resolution and greater accountability.

Legal and administrative path ahead

The criminal case will move through the Enotah/Appalachian judicial process, where Henderson — like all defendants — is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment could lead to arraignment, pretrial hearings and, if the prosecution pursues it, trial. Separately, the governor’s suspension and any state or internal personnel investigations could result in administrative discipline independent of the criminal case. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia has named a special prosecutor to handle the matter.

Possible long-term outcomes for the community

If the criminal case and administrative reviews find misconduct, residents could see several downstream effects: changes in sheriff’s office leadership (including a permanent replacement if Henderson resigns or is removed), revisions to department policies on handling outside officers at crime scenes, expanded state oversight, and renewed calls for transparency and civilian oversight. Even without a conviction, the incident already has prompted heightened scrutiny from law-enforcement groups and state officials, and that scrutiny could translate into policy changes or training mandates intended to restore public confidence.

The wheels of justice often turn slowly so Towns County residents should settle in for an extended "wait and see" period. Of course, if Henderson were to resign, the process would speed up dramatically as far as a more permanent leadership change at the Sheriff's Office.