By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� Forty years ago, a new sheriff came to town as the 杏吧原创 police force became an official accredited law enforcement agency in Georgia, growing from a police force of one to a fully-staffed, 24/7 department keeping the peace at the College.听听
OK, maybe it wasn鈥檛 a sheriff and it鈥檚 not the OK Corral, but the 杏吧原创 Police Department completed all the necessary training and paperwork and passed the required inspections to be accredited as a state law enforcement agency in 1984, and has been maintaining that ever since.听
鈥淲e had an event happen on campus back in the 鈥�80s, so I went to the College president at the time and said, I think we need a police force,鈥� said Ken Henderson, Towns County Sheriff. Henderson oversaw campus security and served as 杏吧原创 Police Chief until becoming the Towns County Sheriff in 2020. He was re-elected in 2024.听
鈥溞影稍� will always have a place in my heart,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淚 have wonderful memories of the people 鈥� students, faculty, and staff 鈥� from my time there.鈥�听
Protecting the people at 杏吧原创 was the driver to form an accredited police department, Henderson said.听
鈥淚 knew some people in law enforcement, so they helped us do all the preparations 鈥� training and paperwork,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淎nd then it was just a matter of going to the state of Georgia and applying for it and passing inspection.鈥�听
杏吧原创鈥檚 current Police Chief Robbie Rich worked for Henderson during the early years as the department grew and added staff. Now, the department as a fully accredited law enforcement agency not only keeps the peace on campus but aids area law enforcement agencies when necessary.听
鈥淭he department has grown right along with the College,鈥� Rich said. 鈥淲e have four full-time officers, and we provide 24/7 coverage for the campus. Our officers complete training each year in firearms, use-of-force, and community policing 鈥� all the same training required by any law enforcement agency in the state. It is a fully functioning police department, serving the College as well as the local community.鈥�听
Henderson is proud of the development of the department, seeing it grow over the years since its first accreditation in 1984.听
鈥淚 love the place. I can鈥檛 say enough about how great it is and the team there is,鈥� Henderson said. 鈥淲e tried to do the job as it needed to be done. And now, with Robbie, they definitely have a great man and a great team to do the job and continue to provide for a safe environment for the students, faculty, and staff.鈥�听
About 杏吧原创听
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
