May Wrap Up

Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez

Once again, we are faced with deep loss.

Deputy Robert Adam Howard was serving his community when he was involved in a vehicle accident that tragically took his life.

He is survived by his wife, their two children, as well as many friends and family.

We will never understand why things happen the way they do or when they do, but we do know one thing.

Our family of blue will continue to stand behind the Families of our Fallen Officers. We will always remember their courage and dedication to serving our community.

Gone But Never Forgotten.

National Police Week

Honoring the Fallen of 2021

This year, teammates and family members of Fallen Officers traveled to Washington D.C. to honor the service, dedication and sacrifice of four brave men.

It is important as we look to the future, we must also never forget those that came before us.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Teammates lost in the Line of Duty during 2021:

  • Detention Officer Robert Perez
  • Deputy Shaun Waters
  • Deputy Alexander Gwosdz
  • Deputy Joshua Sieman

National Correction Officers and Employee Appreciation Week

This month we celebrated our dedicated teammates who work as correction officers or as support teams in the jail.

We celebrated with cake, lunch and employee resources to honor our outstanding teammates.

Thank you all for what you do!

Military Appreciation Luncheon

May is Military Appreciation Month. May also holds multiple military holidays like Armed Forced Day.

To celebrate, our Office of Military Relations hosted a luncheon for our veteran teammates and those still serving in the Armed Forces.

We value our military service men and women who have chosen to continue their life of service here in Harris County.

Connecting in Our Community

Members of our Community Engagement Team are always doing just that, engaging with citizens in the Harris County community.

Throughout the month, teams have participated in numerous events diligently working to connect with and educate within our communities.

Just to name a few, Deputy M. Rivers attended the Harmony School of Advancement Senior’s Career Day, and 5Deputy L. Blanco joined the Sunshine Kids Foundation celebration in honor of National Police Week.

These are just a small example of what it means to serve your community.

To catch our team in action, make sure you follow our social media platforms!

Honoring Memorial Day

Flags 4 Heroes

Our Office of Military Relations hosted the 2nd Annual Flags 4 Heroes Event at the Houston National Cemetery. Each year the goal doubles, bringing this years total to almost 2,000 flags.

Teammates and community members placed flags on the graves to honor their service and say their names. As tradition goes, a loved one can never truly die so long as you keep their memory alive.

Thank you to the many people who came out and participated.

April Wrap Up

Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:

April began tragically with the loss of Deputy Darren Almendarez.

Darren spent 23 years here as our teammate and friend, working as a Patrol Deputy in District 3 and as a Field Training Officer.

Most recently, Almendarez served as an Auto Theft Investigator where he worked closely with other agencies, like the Federal Bureau of Investigations, as part of the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force and the Auto Theft Task Force.

Darren loved what he did and was proud to serve our community.

More than a Deputy, he was a family man. His family meant the world to him, and they will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.

Our community was rocked once again by the loss of Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 7 Deputy Constable Jennifer Chavis only a few short days later.

Jennifer was a proud United States Army Veteran, graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston Downtown and her Master’s Degree from Texas Southern University. She was still pursuing her education when she passed.

Jennifer was also deeply connected to her family. She leaves behind a young son and many other loved ones.

It’s times like these we are reminded why our heroes do what they do and sacrifice so much to keep us safe.

I’m humbled and proud of the way our communities rallied together in their grief to honor and remember these two great heroes.

April is a Month of Awareness

April is Child Abuse Prevention month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Autism Awareness Month.

Our Crime Victim Assistance unit and other local community activists hosted multiple events throughout the month to shed light on these issues and educate the communities on solutions.

National 911 Public Safety Telecommunications Week

During the Week of April 10th through the 16th, we celebrated National 911 Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

Our Communications team members are the steady voice of calm between our communities and our officers.

Their attention to detail and ability to remain steadfast is key to successfully serving the people of Harris County.

To all our Communications Teammates, we extend a heartfelt thank you.

Connecting in Our Community

Our teammates were busy this month, out in various parts of Harris County getting to know our community members.

Our Mounted Patrol Unit and esteemed Mounted Patrol Horse, Chief, enjoyed a local Back the Blue event in District 4 at the Steve Radack Community Center.

Members from our Crime Scene Unit participated in a two-day Forensic Field Trip event hosted by Katy ISD.

Students were able to get up close and personal with the techniques and trade of crime scene forensics while getting to know the teammates who work in this area.

Remembering the Fallen in District 5

Our District 5 Patrol Substation honored it’s Fallen Teammates with a ceremony and touching tribute to Deputies who lost their lives in service to the District 5 community.

Deputy Darren H. Goforth, Deputy Omar Diaz, Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Deputy Alexander Gwosdz, Deputy Joshua Sieman

Dropbox Payment Temporarily Unavailable

Attention Mud 150 residents,

The dropbox payment option is temporarily suspended until further notice due to individuals breaking into the dropbox window at WWWMS’s office late Sunday night early Monday morning.

Once the Board of Directors has determined a new dropbox location, we will inform all residents.

For other payment options, please go to the Water Info tab or click the following link https://www.hcmud150.com/water.

If you have any questions, please contact WWWMS 281-895-8547 or send your questions through the Contact page.

Celebrating Our Women in Blue

In honor of Women’s History Month, join me in celebrating the remarkable women in our agency who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

These women pursued careers in law enforcement for various reasons – many wanted to make a meaningful impact in the very community where they lived, to work toward building trust between peace officers and neighbors, and for their sheriff’s office to be as diverse as Harris County.

They don’t all wear our uniforms. They’re not all in the same division or perform the same job. They work in all areas of our agency but have the same passion and drive for our mission. Whether on the front lines or behind-the-scenes, the work they do every day, individually and collectively, is important and helps make our neighborhoods a better, safer place.

At a time when our communities are growing more diverse, residents must meet deputies and peace officers who look like them, who understand their community’s needs and challenges, and who share their experiences and perspectives.

We’re highlighting only a handful of the women who are taking us to new heights and leading us into a new era of policing rooted in partnerships, innovative strategies, data analysis, and proven training.

Meet Detention Support Services Bureau Major Eleanor Jones

Major Jones joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a certified jailer. She has since held many roles and assignments, including Motorist Assistance Program deputy, narcotics investigator, homicide detective, shift and unit supervisor, and division commander.

Major Jones oversees a broad number of critical support functions that are an integral part of the Criminal Justice Command and serve the more than 8,000 incarcerated persons in our custody. This bureau provides detainees with food, transportation to medical care, proper sanitation conditions for personal hygiene, clergy visitations, access to legal resources, and literacy and rehabilitation programs.

She understands the importance of investing in people to reach their full potential. These programs, resources, and opportunities empower people with the tools, skills, and support to be successful when returning to their communities.

Meet Patrol Bureau Major Susan Cotter

Major Cotter oversees the largest and most visible component of the agency often tasked with providing the initial response to calls for service.

She joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1991 as a certified jailer. She has since served in several roles, including a juvenile probation drill instructor, patrol deputy, accident investigator, auto theft investigator, drug recognition expert instructor, and standardized field sobriety testing instructor.

Major Cotter’s passion for safe roadways has set the bar in traffic enforcement. She’s had a profound impact in the fight against preventable crashes and deaths throughout her public service career.

Major Cotter speaks with urgency about the need for law enforcement to be in the community interacting with residents about the day-to-day happenings in their neighborhoods. She still enjoys being in a patrol vehicle and responding to scenes.

Deputy Luz Blanco with UNIDOS

Communications Officer Brandi Rivers

Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation Program Coordinator Brittany Ortiz

Homicide Investigator Margarita Nolan with Crime Scene Unit Invesigator Tracy Lewallen

Community Problem-Oriented Policing Unit Deputy Ravin Washington

Training Academy Captain Kimberly Smith

Motorcyle Unit Deputy Tiffany Pickens

Tactical Flight Officers Erica DuPont and Latavia Davis

Our women in blue are showing our young girls and future leaders that they, too, can succeed as a patrol deputy, investigator, detention officer, crime analyst, dispatcher, victim advocate, command staff member, or as any of the other essential roles throughout our agency. They have given the next generation a chance to see themselves in them and feel empowered to chart their own course.

Communities need more women in law enforcement. We’re seeking diverse perspectives and want to hire and promote those who embody our core values. If you’re looking to make a difference, learn more about our career opportunities here.

This month is a moment for us to pause and honor the hardworking women in our agency. We’re grateful for their daily dedication, countless contributions, and commitment to our profession.