Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Community Policing Empowers Communities

At the Sheriff’s Office, we have been working hard to implement strategies and solutions to better serve and protect our residents and to keep building trust.

We recently formed the Community Problem-Oriented Policing Unit, also known as CPOP, to foster meaningful relationships with residents, gain insight into the unique needs of each community, and empower people with knowledge and resources through our partners.

Each patrol district will have two dedicated deputies who will spend their time getting to know the businesses, schools, houses of worship, and neighborhoods in their area. They will start to establish relationships with the neighbors that make up the community.

In all of these efforts, the goal is to get the community involved before a crime takes place; to create a bond before a crisis erupts. This way, residents feel more empowered to share what’s on their mind and what public safety concerns or issues on their block keep them up at night. And that makes us all safer.

We’re using community policing and data to drive down crime and enhance our quality of life. We want to ensure that the residents we serve are our partners; that we’re all working together to tackle problems, especially the hard ones.

Last week, we announced the move toward a greater reliance on data analysis to identify the nexus of crashes and crime. The proven operational model called Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) improves deployment decisions, keeps deputies and residents informed, and demonstrates the power of data to address disproportionately affected areas.

As an agency, we’re always exploring innovative approaches that align with our core values, promote transparency and accountability, and focus on engaging residents in a deeper way.

Our neighbors should bring concerns to the deputies patrolling their community. Our deputies should actively include their voices – even those critical of law enforcement – in conversations around strategies for resolving problems in their neighborhood.

CPOP deputies will be knocking on doors, reviewing calls for service, working collaboratively with district commanders and various units across our agency, and seeking community input through surveys and forums. They will be following up with residents to make sure their issues were properly resolved. They will connect people with critical resources through our partners, such as the United Way of Greater Houston and BakerRipley, to assist them with their needs.

Over the next several weeks, the CPOP Unit will attend training focused on the relational policing and community policing models and will work with patrol district leaders on an action plan to rollout in their areas.

As peace officers, our actions must be driven by our training and love for our community. Over the past year, civil unrest over racial justice has led to countless demonstrations across our country. For some, it meant an erosion of trust in law enforcement. Our deputies must be ready and determined to meet this moment. Their work must be an extension of our core values.

We want to help build a foundation so that we can trust each other and rely on each other. And that’s what community is about – the idea that we’re all in this together. That’s the ultimate goal.

During the recent winter storm, you may have seen a social media post from District V Patrol Commander, Capt. Kinnard-Bing, that went viral. Our deputies responded to a call at a hotel in northwest Harris County where they learned a patron couldn’t afford the room for the night. The deputies covered the overnight cost for the hotel room to keep the patron and his family safe and warm.

Their actions were met by a flood of supportive posts from our followers who thanked the deputies and offered to pay for more nights at the hotel if the family was still in need. And that’s not just a testament to our deputies – because when the act of kindness went viral, folks across our county began asking how they could help, too.

That’s Harris County at its best. That’s good police work. That’s what so many of you in our community represent. Let’s keep pushing our world in the right direction – toward lending a helping hand to those in need; toward being a good neighbor; toward equity and fairness.

Read More…

Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Building Bridges for a Stronger Community

Every year, the Sheriff’s Office hosts a Citizens’ Police Academy for residents to learn about the inner workings of our agency. There are two upcoming weeks-long training opportunities – one course that is open for all residents and another course specially tailored for seniors. These experiences are part of our ongoing efforts to involve and engage you and your neighbors in a deeper way through a firsthand look at how we are supporting and serving you daily.

At the Sheriff’s Office, we pride ourselves on working with our community to keep our neighborhoods safe. We recognize the invaluable impact you have on public safety and Harris County’s future.

Both academies will be virtual this year for everyone’s safety but will feature the same high-quality, interactive courses and experiences residents have come to expect and enjoy.

For the course open to all residents, our Community Engagement Division has tapped speakers from divisions across our agency who will cover several critical topics:

  • Patrol and traffic enforcement
  • 911 and non-emergency communication
  • Homicide investigations
  • Cybercrime safety
  • Mental health and wellness
  • Animal education and laws
  • Jail procedures
  • Internal affairs investigations

Starting April 1, every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. through May 13, participants will learn about our programs and services and the local criminal justice system, ask questions, and share feedback with the very leaders entrusted with protecting their community and safeguarding those in our custody.

APPLY TODAY

The training is free. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older and a Harris County resident. Please apply by the deadline, Friday, March 19. Spacing is limited to 60 participants.

If you have any questions regarding the application and program, contact our Community Engagement Division at 713-759-9454.

Silver Citizens’ Police Academy

This virtual academy is dedicated to increasing awareness about issues that affect older adults and ways we can support them.

We will share helpful resources and safety advice specifically tailored for those 65 years and older. We’ll encourage them to stay involved in their communities and to take precautions to reduce their vulnerability to certain crimes, such as mugging, scams, and fraud.

Starting March 16, every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. through April 1, Silver Citizens’ Police Academy participants will learn about:

  • Fraud and scams
  • Romance scams
  • Living life online
  • 911 and non-emergency communication
  • Animal education and laws

REGISTER TODAY

Register by the approaching deadline, Monday, March 8.

We know that a strong neighborhood depends on strong relationships. Our goals are for academy graduates to feel empowered with knowledge and to feel closer to us. They’ll know when and who to call and what resources to lean into when needed. They’ll share their experience with others and take an active role in building a safer, more caring community with their neighbors.

Stay connected with us by following our patrol districts on Twitter and our agency on Nextdoor. Our social media presence will keep you plugged in on everything from breaking news and missing persons alerts to personal safety tips and unit spotlights.

A safe and compassionate community requires constant attention, care, and collaboration. Thank you for your partnership and for joining us on this journey.

Read More…

Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – In Loving Memory of Detention Officer Robert Perez

Our Sheriff’s Office family came together on Wednesday to celebrate the life of our brother and teammate, Detention Officer Robert Perez.

We were joined by his close circle of loved ones and remembered a beloved father, brother, and public servant who devoted his life to his sons, Armando and Diego, and community. He is our fourth colleague agency-wide to pass away after contracting COVID-19.

Over the past five years in our ranks, Detention Officer Perez showed us what makes the Sheriff’s Office “The Pride of Texas.”

He answered the call for service at an early age, enlisting in the U.S. Navy the same year he graduated Brazosport High School in 1985. He served his country for nearly a decade, earning a number of service ribbons and accolades.

He was made for the job, working shoulder to shoulder with his fellow detention officers inside the county jail to ensure the well-being of everyone there.

Last week’s record-setting, bitterly cold temperatures and massive power outage crisis in the face of a pandemic and rising jail population were a reminder of one of our most important responsibilities – overseeing the state’s largest jail.

As hard as this was on so many within our Sheriff’s Office family and across our greater community, Detention Officer Perez’s spirit was with us.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been met with an unending string of challenges. Detention Officer Perez answered the call every shift, day in and day out, despite the hardships.

As a detention officer, you show up in people’s lives on what may be their worst days and are on the front lines of safeguarding their care. Detention Officer Perez understood this responsibility and was honored to earn the public’s faith and trust every time he put his uniform on.

His greatest assignment of all was being a father. At the center of his world were his two sons. He was a hands-on dad and role model, always going above and beyond to care for them.

We honor him by staying the course at a moment when our community needs us the most. Each of us plays a role in fighting this virus. Each of us must lead by example and build on what’s working – staying informed, remaining positive, and following the guidance of the CDC and local public health officials.

We pray that Detention Officer Perez’s family finds peace and comfort in knowing how the difference he made. We will keep him and his family in our hearts.

Winter Storm Recovery Help

Many of our neighbors are still facing home issues and in need of basic necessities. The ReadyHarris Winter Weather Recovery Page has a wide range of recovery information for those seeking assistance.

Basic Needs Assistance

The 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE answers calls from our community 24/7/365 days a year. Those with internet access can also go online to check for available resources. The 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is updated daily as resources become available.

FEMA Assistance

Texans in more than 100 counties can begin applying for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help them recover from last week’s winter storm. Insured Texans should first file claims through their existing policies. Learn what steps to take before applying for assistance here.

Texans interested in receiving disaster assistance must apply through disasterassistance.gov. Residents without internet access can call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-3362 to apply for assistance or check application status.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund

The Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund is dedicated to filling the gaps that may not be met by other local and federal efforts.

To learn about fund resources as they become available, text HoustonFreeze to 898211 or for Spanish, text HoustonAyuda to 898211. As soon as assistance is available, residents will be texted back with eligibility and application guidelines.

Read More…

Boil Water Notice Rescinded

On February 17, 2021, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 150-TX1011250 to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of February 23, 2021.

The Boil Water Notice was issued as a result of the City of Houston’s issuance of a Boil Water Notice, as Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 150 receives its surface water from water providers that receive their water supply directly from the City of Houston.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact WWWMS, Inc., the operator for Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 150, at 281-895-8547.