Henry County's police chief plans to call it quits at the end of the month.

Russell Abernathy, a lifelong resident of Henry County, has held the top post since Feb. 2005.

In 1997, Abernathy retired from the Georgia State Patrol following 30 years of service. He was later employed as a consultant for the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia.

Abernathy, 64, said he plans to spend more time with his family in Tennessee.

The county manager is expected to name an interim chief, spokeswoman Julie Hoover-Ernst said.

About the Author

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)