McDONOUGH â Henry County law enforcement, county leaders and the Smith family came together Tuesday to honor Henry County Police Officer Michael Smith, nearly two years to the day of his end of watch.
As white doves were released, officials unveiled a permanent memorial to Smith on Jonesboro Road, dubbed Heroâs Highway.
On Dec. 6, 2018, Smith responded to a call of a man behaving erratically at Smile Creators Family Cosmetic Dentistry in McDonough. The man, DiMaggio McNelly, struggled with Smith for his service weapon when one shot was fired, critically injuring Smith and killing McNelly.
Smith died of his injuries on Dec. 28, 2018.
HAMPTON â District 4 Department of Health employees and nurses readied 500 vaccinations to protect the countyâs first responders and health care workers against COVID-19 Tuesday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Cars lined up some two hours early, which Hayla Folden, risk communicator with DPH, said was pretty exciting.
âItâs great we have so many people who want to receive the vaccine,â Folden said. Among those in line were Henry County Police Chief Mark Amerman, Don Ash, director of Henry County Emergency Management, Rodney Wiggins, Fire Department deputy chief, and Mike Ireland, Henry County Police deputy chief.
Amerman said he thought it was important to get the vaccine to show the men and women of the Police Department that itâs safe to get.