Fallen Hamilton County deputy remembered for decades of service, impact on community
Larry Henderson was the kind of deputy everyone knew and everyone respected.
"He was a Marine, and he was a law enforcement officer, so he had the hard side and he got the job done especially being a member of the SWAT team, but yet he could take that hat off very easily and turn around and be a sympathetic and humane person who just loved his community," said Scott Snow, chief ranger of Great Parks Hamilton County.
Henderson worked for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for 33 years. Even after he retired last December, he continued to work special details. That's what he was doing Friday when he was killed while directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati's graduation. Investigators said Rodney Hinton hit and killed Henderson on purpose simply because Henderson was wearing a badge.
"It's a big gut punch here for the hospital because of how involved he was here," said Keith Lewis, security manager at Anderson Hospital.
In addition to working for the sheriff's office, Henderson spent the last 20 years working part time security at Anderson Hospital's emergency department.
"He was everything, and he still came in here 16 hours a week at least to help everybody here," said the security manager at Mercy Health Anderson Hospital. "This was his calling to help people. Never saw him in a bad mood, ever. As much as he worked on the road 바카라 게임 웹사이트 he could have worked a 12-hour shift on the road 바카라 게임 웹사이트 he came in here, ready to go, smiling, talking to everybody. I never saw him in a bad mood, ever."
Henderson was a 1985 graduate of Mariemont High School. After serving our country in the Marines, he returned home to serve his community as a sheriff's deputy. He was a member of several specialized units, including the Dive Team, SWAT, FBI Task Force Officer and the HCSO Bomb Unit.
Behind the badge, friends described Henderson as kind and compassionate.
"Larry would mow our elderly neighbor's yard for him. He'd stop his cruiser to say hi and check in on me and my newborn when we went for walks. He made us feel welcomed on the street," said his neighbor, Alexis Benton.
Ann Flanigan also shared memories with 바카라게임.
"I met Larry when he worked security detail on the weekends at Green Acres. He was friendly and polite, but when things got rough, he didn't mess around. I always felt safe going to him with problems or questions. Larry Henderson was a true good guy. I am very sad he is gone," Flanigan said.
Above all, Henderson was a family man.
"He loved his family with every fiber of his being, and he loved everyone he met with the same fierce devotion, making them feel like part of his extended family," said Jenn Walton, a friend of Henderson's. "Larry greeted everyone he saw with a warm, radiant smile that could light up a room. He had a heart of gold and an amazing sense of humor that could bring people together like nothing else. He never met a stranger."
Henderson was a husband, father of five, grandfather and a foster parent. Friends said he and his wife were fostering two young children whom they hoped to adopt.
"I can't state it enough, that's how awesome of a police officer he was in law enforcement, he was a better human," Lewis said.
"That was just the kind of person he was, he had a huge heart," Snow said.
Now, it's Henderson's turn to be honored and his family's turn to be lifted up by the community.
Snow is president of "The Shield," an organization that helps families of law enforcement officers who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.
Members of The Shield are already stepping in to help with financial and emotional support for the Henderson family.
"Quite frankly, it's very humbling, and it's an honor to be able to be able to help them at the worst time they've ever experienced in their lives and try and get them support, whether it's emotional support, financial support, whatever we can do," Snow said. "We're not just there for the short time, we've helped families years later who are still experiencing issues. We're there for the long haul."
Anyone wanting to help the Henderson family, can do so by donating to through its website or and making a note of where you would like the money to go.