Meanwhile, Henderson worked part time with the Remerton Police Department, where he served as chief for most of his tenure. He also began to serve on the Lowndes County Drug Squad.

When asked what influenced his decision to get into law enforcement, Henderson replied, “I never really thought about it. In the 1970s jobs were kind of hard to come by. And after working at the airport, I found I liked the policing part more than I liked firefighting.”

After eight years of working for the airport, the city discussed closing the joint fire and police department. Henderson then applied at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

“I eventually got called back and asked if I’d like to work on the drug squad.”

In November 1983, Henderson became a drug agent at the sheriff’s office.

Henderson quickly advanced during his tenure at the sheriff’s office. He worked as a drug agent for two years, then became a detective. After two years in the detective bureau, Henderson was promoted to lieutenant. He maintained that position until leaving the sheriff’s office in June 2005.

“I took a few months off of law enforcement and then went to work for the Echols County Sheriff’s Office,” Henderson said.

Henderson stayed with the Echols County Sheriff’s Office for three years. After Prine was elected Lowndes County’s sheriff, Henderson considered returning to work in Lowndes County.

“Sheriff Prine called me one day and asked me to come by, so I did. I decided to come back to the sheriff’s office after giving the idea some thought.”

Henderson officially returned to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 1, 2009. He now serves as a major at the sheriff’s office.

He handles personnel paperwork and writes policy for the office. Henderson said his time back with the sheriff’s office has been a learning experience, considering so much has changed in the past four years.

“The changes are mainly due to upgrades in technology in the office,” Henderson said. “The faces have changed as well. There was a time when I could walk around the sheriff’s office and I would know everyone’s name. I never thought I would see the department get so big that I did not know everyone by name.”

In addition to the on-the-job knowledge and expertise Henderson has acquired, he has also obtained training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, received an associate’s degree in general studies from Georgia Military College, received a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Valdosta State University and completed the Basic Narcotics Investigator’s Course from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

“This job also requires that you take so many classes to help you maintain and develop skills, so I’ve attended several other schools and classes,” he added.

At 58 years old Henderson does not have any plans to leave the sheriff’s office in the near future.