Author: HCMUD 150

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.

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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.

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