Author: HCMUD 150

On Thursday, we co-hosted a press conference with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office and several other key public safety partners to discuss new protections for people living in boarding homes that take effect on Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The speakers discussed the importance of safe boarding home options for seniors and our most vulnerable neighbors, regulations in unincorporated communities, enforcement plans, and community resources. The new state law, authored by state Sen. Borris Miles, creates tougher criminal sanctions for those who operate unlicensed boarding homes. It also creates criminal penalties for people who fail to report abuse or neglect in boarding homes.

In Harris County, we work as a public safety team to protect our communities. The residents we serve are part of this team. We rely on them to report abuse when they see the signs of a bad boarding home operator on their block. Watch the recorded press conference and learn more about the boarding home permitting process here. To report abuse or neglect, call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or file a report online. Once a facility passes inspection, our newly formed Boarding Home Detail will review the permit applications.

Stay Informed and Be Ready Before a Storm Hits

Four years after Hurricane Harvey devastated our region, we are on high notice as meteorologists and emergency management officials monitor the tropical depression in the Caribbean that will likely move into the Gulf of Mexico and strengthen into a hurricane. Landfall is forecast for Sunday night. And while the latest forecasts predict landfall is most likely in Louisiana, our region is advised to remain vigilant.

This is the most active period of hurricane season. If you haven’t already, finalize your emergency plan, stock up on critical supplies, bookmark preparedness resources, and stay informed.

Preparedness Checklist

• Create an Emergency Plan: Knowing what to do protects you and your loved ones. Every family is unique and has different needs. Discuss how you will stay in contact with each other, what you will do in an emergency, and where you will go if you need to evacuate. This plan is your guide and best protection against the dangers of a disaster.
• Stay Informed: Closely monitor the local National Weather Service forecast and sign up for emergency alerts at Ready Harris. If you must get on the roads, check road conditions on Houston TranStar’s traffic map. Monitor rainfall data, bayou flooding levels, and flooded roads, parks, and low-lying areas at the Harris County Flood Warning System website.
• Build a Kit: During emergencies, you may need to evacuate or hunker down at home for an extended period. Consider building a go-bag and shelter-in-place kit. Don’t panic buy – give yourself time to purchase disaster supplies and prepare your emergency food, water, and medical necessities.

The time to prepare is now. God bless you, and God bless the Sheriff’s Office.

Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force Recognized by U.S. Marshals Service Director Washington

The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force led by the U.S. Marshals Service. The purpose of the task force is to combine the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most violent fugitives in our region. It also serves as the central point for agencies to share vital information and partner on major cases.

The regional fugitive task force was presented the 40th Director’s Honorary Award for Distinguished Group by U.S. Marshals Service Director Donald W. Washington for their efforts in implementing a strategy to address violence in the Southern District of Texas, arresting 4,891 fugitives, 168 gang members, and locating 17 missing children over a year.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has been a vital member and partner agency since the inception of the task force in 1993,” said Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Arthur Fernandez. “The professionalism of the sheriff’s deputies and sergeants assigned to the task force is an example of the best resources and partnerships the USMS has across the country. The successful apprehension of the area’s most violent offenders, high profile targets, and the overall volume of cases handled by the task force is recognized by our Investigative Operations Division and the Director of the U.S. Marshals in Washington, DC.

It is a great honor to work with the dedicated men and women who truly hold the line between our community and the evil actors that choose to victimize our neighborhoods and nation,” said Lt. Haberland, who oversees the Criminal Warrants Section and our involvement in the task force. “It is an absolute privilege to be a part of such an amazing team of talented and skilled investigators. I am grateful for their service and all that we stand for as peace officers and an agency.

We have dedicated two squads to the task force, which includes nine deputies and two sergeants. These operations also result in a large amount of weapons, narcotics, and cash seized off our streets.

We’re thankful to be part of this critical partnership and joint law enforcement effort to keep our communities safe. And we’re proud of our Criminal Warrants Section and teammates serving on the task force.

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On Monday, in the span of less than 24 hours, two domestic violence-related incidents turned fatal. In northeast Harris County, a mother was preparing her three children for their first day of school when her estranged husband showed up at her home and attacked her. He was killed during the attack. Later that evening, a woman’s brother and her ex-boyfriend got into a fight that escalated into a shooting at an apartment complex on Cypress Station.

Our deputies are entrusted by our community to protect them. At the Sheriff’s Office, we take seriously our duty to help those who are being hurt by someone who is supposed to love them.
We thoroughly investigate cases of abuse and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of a crime and the criminal justice process.
In 2017, we launched our Victim Assistance Unit to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This specialized unit assesses a victim’s needs and provides immediate crisis intervention, working collaboratively with our domestic violence partners in the community to find emergency shelter, legal resources, and other critical services that help victims on their journey to become survivors. From January to July of this year, our advocates served 670 victims and placed 2,535 calls to victims to offer our services. In 2020, our advocates reached out to 5,802 victims and served 1,308.

“Victims want to know what’s going on and where to get help,” said Sgt. Hulsey, who oversees the team of victim advocates. “They want to know about the progress of their case. They want to know about the status of the suspected abuser.”

Addressing a person’s emotional needs is always the first step, said Melissa Ramirez, a victim advocate assigned to Patrol District 3 in east Harris County. From there, advocates are able to walk victims through the next steps.

“The help spans from obtaining a protective order and trauma counseling to plugging them into emergency housing and utility assistance,” Ramirez said. “We also help victims connect with pro-bono divorce attorneys and offset the cost of funeral arrangements.”
In 2019, we launched a multi-disciplinary program called the Sheriff’s Mobile Advocacy Response Team, or SMART, to amplify our efforts in reducing domestic violence and sexual assaults. A deputy investigator is paired with a violent crime advocate. The pair respond to active scenes across Harris County.

Our agency is also part of the Harris County Domestic Violence High-Risk Team, a group of regional public safety partners that review cases that are most at risk for homicide. They then close gaps in service and protection.

“We actively monitor calls for service, proactively search our databases for repeat calls for service and victimization and take on referral cases from our Domestic Violence Unit,” said Deputy Investigator Mook. “We are often the first support system for abuse victims.”

He added, “Our job, and really mission, is to get victims the resources they need immediately. Not tomorrow, not week, not next month. We are out in the field establishing relationships with them and talking them through everything. In many ways, we’re the liaison between our frontline personnel and the victim. We are their go-to person for every step in their case and the path to a safer life.”

When our patrol deputies arrive on a scene, they are assessing the incident and making quick determinations about which agency assets to deploy. Beyond securing the crime scene, determining what happened, and collecting evidence to support the investigation, our first responders are thinking about addressing the needs of victims and their families.

Our Victim Assistance Unit team members work their regular jobs within the unit but are also on call to respond to active scenes as needed. SMART teammates work around the clock on the weekends when the need is the greatest.

We see this experienced team focused on serving victims as a valuable component of our agency’s overall response efforts. Their training and backgrounds are as important to the incident as the other specialized units.

Contact Us

If you want to report abuse, reach out to our Victim Assistance Line at 713-274-9369 or find a victim advocate in your patrol district here. For more information about victim resources, click here to download our brochure.

During this challenging time, many victims may feel compelled to cling to their homes and family. But no one should feel obligated to remain in an abusive relationship of any form.

This type of violence was a public crisis long before the pandemic and is believed to be an underreported crime. There have been 73 murders since January – 19 of those murders were family violence related. And several other homicides involving domestic violence have been referred to a grand jury.

As a community, we can keep an eye out for potential victims and pay attention to whether a situation seems dangerous for a neighbor, friend, or family member. When you suspect something is happening, trust your instincts and say something.

We encourage victims to come to us for assistance or to reach out to one of the many organizations in our region whose mission is to end domestic and sexual violence for all. We are here for you.

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For many of our struggling neighbors, boarding homes are a last resort to avoid homelessness. These residential facilities can be a viable, low-cost housing option for the working poor, elderly, disabled, and those with mental health issues. A properly run boarding home offers community, safety, and shelter to people in need.

The state defines boarding homes as facilities housing at least three people who are disabled or elderly and not related to the owner. The homes offer basic services to the tenants but do not administer the same level of care provided by state-licensed assisted living facilities.
Although our region has a reputation for housing affordability, there are still housing challenges and a need to provide more affordable housing opportunities. We need boarding homes, so we must work to make sure they’re safe.

Over the past year, the discovery of boarding homes with deplorable living conditions and rampant exploitation and neglect motivated state legislators and county officials to crack down on violators and take a closer look at boarding home regulations beyond the city.

Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers passed boarding home reform bills that enhance the penalty for operating a home without a permit to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail or a $2,000 fine. It also included a measure that created a Class A misdemeanor for failing to report abuse in a boarding home. The new laws take effect on Sept. 1.
In March, Harris County Commissioners Court approved regulations that require a permit to operate a boarding home in unincorporated areas. In response to the mandated occupancy restrictions, background checks, and annual safety inspections, the Sheriff’s Office formed a Boarding Home Detail to serve as the permit administrator for the county. It’s the first of its kind for our agency.

Our Boarding Home Detail proactively identifies, permits, and addresses any ongoing issues associated with boarding homes throughout Harris County. The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office inspects the homes before the permits are granted.

“We’re doing all we can to ensure the boarding home facilities receive a permit and are in compliance by September,” said Deputy Investigator Lowry, one of two investigators assigned to the Boarding Home Detail. “We’re sharing the state model standards, providing mock inspections, and educational touchpoints.”

“The first step is contacting the homes to see if they meet the definition of a boarding home. Then we work with them to get them permitted. At the end of the day, these facilities are providing some of our most vulnerable neighbors with a home. We just want to ensure that every operator has the well-being and safety of its residents in mind.”

Sgt. Tschudy, who leads the newly formed investigative team, says the detail initially identified more than 100 facilities that may fall under the state’s definition of a boarding home through research, reviewing reports, and outreach. After further research, BHD says there are about 60 boarding homes that will all need a permit by the time the law takes effect.

The detail has two dedicated deputy investigators who work collaboratively with our Crimes Against Elderly and Disabled Unit to target crimes of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. They also partner with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, Texas Adult Protective Services, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and other public safety entities. We also serve as part of a multi-disciplinary team called the Senior Justice Assessment Center to provide services to seniors through assessments, treatment referrals, and education to address the unique needs of elder abuse.

Before the regulations, it wasn’t uncommon for our deputies to learn about a boarding home and the conditions in them during a call for service. Left unchecked, the residents in these homes can find themselves living in difficult circumstances.

Many of the new regulations address the general condition of the homes – from fixing appliances that don’t work to providing sufficient space for residents to secure their clothing and personal belongings. As part of this permitting process, owners, staff, and volunteers register with the county and undergo criminal background checks.

Deputy Investigator Lowry added, “We’re walking them through the online permitting process and using the Texas Boarding Home model standards as a guide for what we inspect for and what is required. It’s a time-consuming process with many parts, but we are taking the boarding home operators through every step.”

“We’re also talking to the residents that live in these homes about their experiences. We want them to feel like it’s their home. That’s the goal.”

We’re proud to take a holistic enforcement approach to these regulations. For more information about our newly formed Boarding Home Detail, visit our website here.

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Our Sheriff’s Office family is saddened by the heartbreaking loss of our brother and teammate, Deputy Shaun Waters, who fell victim to COVID-19.

On Tuesday, we stood with our extended law enforcement family at the City of Southside Place Police Department to salute a remarkable public servant, husband, and father. The honor cordon and funeral procession were uplifting reminders of our camaraderie and promise to forever be by each other’s side.

Deputy Waters was part of a family of public servants. His wife, Arsolanda, is a sergeant with the City of Southside Place Police Department. She began her law enforcement career at the Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer inside the county jail and later swore the same sacred oath as her husband when she earned her deputy badge.

Deputy Waters joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 and served in many capacities throughout our agency, including as a detention officer, a patrol field training officer in west Harris County, and a firearms instructor at our training academy.

Deputy Waters’ profound impact on those who knew him was evident in the many stories and memories shared by his teammates over the past week. He was most remembered for his endless love for helping others.

His greatest passion was teaching and mentoring the next generation of deputies. Whether it was in the field, inside the classroom, or at the firearms range, Deputy Waters was known as a true servant leader. He always made himself available to his teammates.

Firearms Range at Sheriff’s Office Training Academy with Senior Deputy Delaine

When Deputy Delaine, a firearms instructor at our academy, met him several years ago, he jokingly remembered that Deputy Waters wasn’t always a proficient shooter.

“But he kept trying,” Deputy Delaine said. “He had a relentless interest in getting better and took it upon himself to improve. He listened. He worked hard. It’s who he was.”

Deputy Delaine added, “He trained some of the best deputies in our ranks. He wanted them to know every aspect of the job. Whether it was patrol training or firearms tactics, he was known as a pillar of knowledge.”

Deputy Waters at the Firearms Range

Sgt. Robbennolt, our patrol training coordinator, says Deputy Waters was part of a proactive joint effort a few years ago that made our Field Training Program what it is today. It included writing positions for the role of Field Training Administrator, teaching more classes at the academy, and evaluating our patrol tactics and procedures. It was about being more efficient, innovative, and safe.

He talked to his fellow field training officers about ways to better help new deputies who needed to improve in certain areas, such as traffic stops. People cared for him well beyond his work here at the Sheriff’s Office.

He set an example of safe and professional weapons handling and firearms training. And he drove home the responsibility for public safety and personal safety to cadets, laterals, and deputies.

Leadership Development Institute Graduation, 2020

Deputy Waters was also a proud graduate of our agency’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI), a selective leadership program for rising team members that teaches a culture of servant leadership accountability. He embodied LDI’s mission and shared a commitment to learning and growth.

Deputy Waters touched many lives, and his legacy lives on through the countless deputies he guided and mentored to be tomorrow’s leaders. We will keep our sister in blue, Arsolanda, and their two children in our hearts and prayers.

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