Author: HCMUD 150

On Monday, we kicked off the new year by welcoming cherished members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Junior Mounted Posse to a ceremonial signing and presentation of proclamations in honor of their annual tradition of a pony express relay.

The Posse will hand-deliver Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo invitations to local officials in surrounding counties, starting January 15 in Columbus.

The old method of delivery, called the pony express relay ride, is a reminder of a time-honored tradition. It will cover a total of more than 100 miles of roads.

The Pony Express Relay Ride

• January 15: Columbus, Weimar, Hallettsville
• January 29: Tomball, Magnolia, Navasota
• February 12: Chambers, Liberty, and Polk

The Posse, now in its 70th year, is the oldest youth equestrian drill team in Texas.

Throughout the year, they practice horsemanship, act as agency ambassadors, and celebrate our Western heritage through their participation in parades, rodeos, and other local community events.

Posse members, who are 6 to 20 years old, dedicate countless hours to learning and executing intricate drills and maneuvers. They are an extension of the Sheriff’s Office in the community.

“What I enjoy most about the program is seeing their growth first-hand – we watch them gain more training and confidence in riding over time,” said Lt. Chris Adolph, who serves as the program coordinator for the Posse.

“Our Mounted Patrol trainers are hands-on advisors and mentors. It’s also a family affair that teaches various aspects of teamwork and commitment.”

Lt. Adolph added, “Mounted patrol is one way to break down barriers and bring us closer to the community. People gravitate to the horses and start conversations. They want to engage with us and know more.”

Join the Posse

The Posse is always looking for new members. Members must have access to a trained horse and transportation for the horse and equipment to practices and events.

Learn More

Lead Drillmaster

For Dalyn Bussey, who is the lead drillmaster for the Posse and mom to one of the youngest members, the positive interaction with law enforcement is what drew her to get involved.

Bussey said, “My son joined almost three years ago. We were excited to find a group that combined our love of horses and supporting law enforcement. The positive interaction we have with the deputies is fantastic. It’s priceless to have my son consider himself part of the HCSO family – and he can share that feeling with his friends.”

In Houston, rodeo season is one of our city’s pride points and a beloved salute to our deep Texas roots. Going Texan tells everyone that you belong to this county and great state, and it belongs to you. It’s something we pride ourselves on. It’s unmatched.

We look forward to taking in all that we have come to love about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. And we look forward to cheering on our Junior Mounted Posse.

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We gathered outside the Emergency Dispatch Center for a candlelight vigil to honor Sgt. Bruce Watson on Jan. 5, 2021. The 20-year agency veteran was fatally struck by a vehicle while off-duty leading a funeral procession in the Pearland area.

After six months of Basic Peace Officer Course training, we welcomed 60 new deputies to our Sheriff’s Office family on Jan. 26, 2021. The B1-2020 class kept going in the face of unimaginable challenges: a pandemic and the sudden and heartbreaking loss of their classmate, Cadet Cornelius Anderson.

Project Lifesaver Coordinator Deputy Ashley Schubert hugs a child after a home visit on Feb. 1, 2021. The child, who has Down syndrome, wears a tracking device that helps deputies locate her if she becomes lost. We have partnered with Project Lifesaver International to provide the tracking program for persons who are prone to wandering due to their cognitive conditions.

We held a K9 retirement ceremony for K9s Rico, Lucky, and Gerard at our training academy on Feb. 5, 2021.

Major Susan Cotter talks with deputies at our training academy on March 5, 2021. Major Cotter is the agency’s first female Patrol Bureau Major.

Motorcycle deputies at Detention Officer Robert Perez’s funeral on Feb. 24, 2021, at Humble First Assembly of God Church. Officer Perez passed away after contracting COVID-19. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served at the Harris County Jail for five years.

Patrol District 4 Deputy Nguyen during a multi-agency initiative to combat gang activity in west Harris County. Each of our five patrol districts has a Crime Reduction Unit. The mission of the CRU is to ensure the safety of residents through proactive operations and investigations that target high crime areas.

Sheriff’s Office helicopters fly over Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church during funeral services for Deputy Alexander Gwosdz, 32, who passed away on April 22, 2021, from COVID-19 complications. He served as a patrol deputy in northwest Harris County. His father retired from the Sheriff’s Office after 34 years of service.

Family members pray during a Peace Officer Memorial at Crime Stoppers of Houston on May 6, 2021.

Deputies and detention officers placed flags on graves at the Houston National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day on May 28, 2021.

Detention officers participated in a fire and life safety training drill with their colleagues playing the role of incarcerated people in June 2021. The drill – complete with artificial flames and smoke – provides valuable training to help our detention staff respond quickly and efficiently during an emergency.

Cadets welcomed Beyond the Call of Duty’s End of Watch Ride to Remember riders and a memorial trailer to our training academy on June 17, 2021. The touring memorial honored peace officers across the nation who died in the line of duty in 2020.

Our Bomb Unit and law enforcement partners tested and rendered safe a Civil War-era cannonball discovered under downtown Houston on June 17, 2021.

Rapper and Community Philanthropist, Trae The Truth, delivered 2,000 pints of ice cream to the Harris County Jail on July 15, 2021. He co-owns an ice cream shop that employs people with special needs.

We joined our community in McNair for a Juneteenth Parade on June 19, 2021. Juneteenth celebrates the culture and achievements of African Americans and the end of slavery.

Boarding Home Detail Deputies Lowry and Mora inspected a boarding home in west Harris County on Aug. 12, 2021. The new unit proactively identifies, permits, and addresses any ongoing issues associated with boarding homes in Harris County. Harris County is the first county to enforce mandated boarding home regulations in Texas.

Community Problem-Oriented Policing Unit Deputy Ravin Washington works in Patrol District 1 in north Harris County on Aug. 17, 2021. The new unit fosters meaningful relationships with residents and supports the unique needs of our communities.

A riderless horse at the funeral services for Deputy Shaun Waters at Community of Faith Church on Aug. 18, 2021. Deputy Waters, 42, was assigned to Patrol District 4 in west Harris County as a patrol field training officer. He passed away after contracting COVID-19.

On Oct. 5, 2021, we interacted with residents across the county during National Night Out festivities. This tradition is dedicated to getting to know one another and strengthening our community bonds.

Deputy Natalie Guevara is pinned by her mother, Reserve Deputy Angela Lopez, at the Basic Peace Officer Course graduation for Class B1-2021 on Oct. 12, 2021.

Patrol District 2 Substation’s Trunk-a-Treat Halloween Celebration on Oct. 31, 2021.

Deputies and teammates participated in Houston’s first annual Day of the Dead Parade on Nov. 6, 2021.

Our Honor Guard members at the funeral services for Deputy Joshua Sieman at Parkway Fellowship in Richmond, TX on Nov. 3, 2021. Deputy Sieman, 39, passed away on Oct. 21, 2021, of COVID-19 complications. He joined our agency in 2016 and was assigned to Patrol District 5 in northwest Harris County, where he served as a member of the Crime Reduction Unit.

We participated in the City of Houston’s Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2021.

Communications Officer Brandi Rivers answers 911 calls at our emergency call center on Nov. 30, 2021. She is a 14-year agency veteran.

Deputy Pamela Webster prayed with a child participating in Shop With a Cop at a Walmart in Tomball, TX on Dec. 11, 2021. 22 children served by Sunshine thru the Rain, a nonprofit that supports children that lost one or both of their parents, received holiday shopping sprees and quality time with our deputies and detention officers.

Unidos Deputies Luz Blanco and Laura Magallanes review Christmas wish lists with sisters who lost their mother to COVID-19. We joined other law enforcement partners at Target to provide children in our area with a shopping spree and holiday cheer at an annual tradition, Shop With a Cop, Shop With a Jock, on Dec. 14, 2021.