Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – We WILL Get Through This

Our men and women of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are on the front lines of this pandemic carrying out our oath to fight crime and serve every Harris County resident. As we battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to do our part; please do yours and we will get through this together.

This week our hearts are heavy as we vow to never forget retired HCSO Deputy Hilbert Nunez, 57, who passed away due to COVID-19. He retired in April 2017 after 34 years of service. Our condolences go out to his family. May he rest in peace.

As of Friday, 115 employees have tested positive for the virus, with 100 of the positive test results being among those who work in the Harris County Jail. Thankfully, 137 previously quarantined employees – including 11 who previously tested positive for the virus – are now healthy and have returned to duty.

Five of our teammates are currently in the hospital, including Sgt. Raymond Scholwinski. Help us to continue praying for their prompt recovery as they battle the virus.

Seventy-one inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

We’re working hard to slow the spread of COVID-19, especially among our 2,000-plus employees who work in the jail. I’m forever thankful to our Harris County Jail teammates for their commitment and service. Click here to read the measures taken in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 among our staff and inmates.

Resources for You

It’s important to remember that the virus doesn’t move – people move it. Please practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, disinfect surfaces, and stay home if you can. If you need to go out, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises wearing simple cloth face coverings in public to help slow the spread of the virus while conducting essential activities.

The fight against the virus requires some sacrifices and now more than ever we need to take care of our mental and physical health. According to the World Health Organization here are tips on how to stay active at home during the pandemic:

  • Reduce long periods of time spent sitting
  • Set up a daily routine to be active
  • If you go for a walk or bicycle ride practice social distancing
  • Do not exercise if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing

It’s important to take care of our mental health. The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD activated the COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line 833-251-7544 to help our community. If you are in a mental health crisis, help is always available. Call 911 or 713-221-6000.

Remember that you are not alone, we are in this together. If you need help or advice dealing with COVID-19 please visit readyharris.org. There are resources available to help you during this time. If you are showing symptoms of illness related to the virus — such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath — please click here for more information or call 832-927-7575 if you don’t have access to the internet.

The community keeps coming together in these trying times. We have received multiple donations — of personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies — to protect our deputies, correction officers, medical staff and inmates during the pandemic. To our community members, I’m extremely grateful for your generosity and support. An act of kindness during a stressful time can make an enormous impact.

Even though we are a bit farther apart these days — we will get through this. We have seen adversity before, and I know we will persevere. This is what makes us strong. I hope all of our residents have a good weekend, keep the faith, and stay positive. God bless you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

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Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Stay Home, Save Lives

As we embark on another critical week in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to thank our residents for staying home and helping us flatten the curve. Slowing the spread is a shared responsibility and I appreciate the sacrifices everyone is making.

It’s a trying time for all, no one is immune from the virus and thousands of first responders are risking their lives more than usual right now.

This week, we gathered to lift in prayer Sergeant Raymond Scholwinski — who is in critical condition at a local hospital — and all 38 HCSO teammates who have now contracted the virus. You can watch the video of the prayer vigil below.

I believe in the power of prayer and want to ask you to join me in praying for my teammates and all first responders infected with the virus. Also, I’m glad to welcome back 75 employees who have now been released from quarantine and returned to work.

The number of HCSO teammates who have received positive test results for COVID-19 has grown to 37. And five inmates in the Harris County Jail have tested positive for the virus. We are working with Harris County Public Health to identify co-workers, inmates, and members of the public who may have had close contact with the diagnosed employees so they can take necessary precautions.

All jail employees have been issued protective masks and are instructed to wear them while on duty. All inmates have also been issued masks. Regular temperature checks are performed daily on all employees as they report for duty.

Additional staff members have also been assigned to field calls on the Inmate Care Concern phone line to help family and friends share concerns about the quality of care their loved ones are receiving. You can call 713-274-7477, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Inmate Care Concerns may also be submitted online here.

This Sunday we kick off National Telecommunicators week. I want to thank all of our communications teammates who serve a vital role in protecting our county. We celebrate all of you this week and you have my sincere appreciation for your service and your commitment to helping our residents.

Staying Safe During COVID-19

Life as we know it has come to a halt, but domestic violence has not. Stay-at-home measures may help prevent the virus, but you may now find yourself in a dangerous situation. No one should feel alone or unsafe. Please remember that you are not alone and we are here to help you. Do not give up, send us a message or call 713-221-6000 for help.

You can also contact the Houston Area Women’s Center at 713-528-2121 and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224, or text LOVEIS to 22522. If you are in danger, please call 911 immediately.

Recovery Resources

If you need help or advice dealing with COVID-19 please visit readyharris.org. There are programs to assist with basic needs including housing, food, and healthcare. Dial 2-1-1 for more information.

If you are showing symptoms of illness such as a fever, cough, or shortness of breath please click here for the screening tool to determine whether you may need further assessment or need to be tested for COVID-19. Stay informed with the latest COVID-19 data from the county with the Harris County Public Health dashboard, click here. If you have any questions please email them to stayhome@cjo.hctx.net and call 832-839-694 to report violators.

This is the time to stay on course and be stronger than ever. My team and I will continue to protect and serve through this crisis. Thank you to our constituents for your support. I hope everyone has a great Easter holiday. God bless all of you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

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Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Together We Will Persevere

In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives, but we still carry our oath to keep our residents safe. My team knows the risk of getting the virus is high but that doesn’t stop us. Our priority is to protect and serve our community.

The inevitable fact is that we are not immune and we are impacted like everyone else. Unfortunately, we have 14 teammates who have received positive test results for COVID-19. I am deeply concern as more first responders are getting infected in our region and I pray for their prompt recovery.

Within the last week, three Harris County Jail inmates tested positive for COVID-19. My team and I are doing our best to implement procedures to protect our staff and inmates, but unfortunately, no environment is immune.

This week, we received an order from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo mandating the temporary release of a narrow group of inmates with no history of violence. To be eligible for temporary release, an inmate must be charged with — but not yet convicted of — a crime that doesn’t involve violence or the threat of violence. Those charged with burglarizing homes or habitual drunk driving will be ineligible as well. The measures we are taking today will benefit both public health and public safety in our county.

To help reduce person-to-person contact with our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic we assigned more deputies to take non-emergency crime reports over the phone. Please watch the video below or click here.

File a report:

Staying Home, Safe, and Healthy

Harris County, we made it through another week. And now more than ever, we need to be united as a community and follow the Stay Home/Work Safe order, which was extended through the end of April. Stay informed with the latest COVID-19 data from the county with the Harris County Public Health dashboard.

I implore all of you to stay home and continue to enforce social distancing to help ‘flatten the curve’. We need to stop putting at risk the lives of the most vulnerable. I know that we will get through this, one day at a time because we are stronger together.

April marks the start of Stress Awareness Month and some of you might be facing unprecedented levels of stress as we navigate the impacts of the pandemic. Our psychologist, Dr. Robert Seals, shared a few tips — from Dr. Eileen Feliciano, a clinical psychologist at New York State — to help manage and reduce stress during this time.

Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine:

  • Stick to a routine
  • Dress for the social life you want, not the social life you have
  • Be active for at least thirty minutes per day
  • Reach out to your friends and family
  • Stay hydrated and eat well
  • Spend extra time playing with your children
  • Limit social media use
  • Notice the good in the world
  • Help others, if you can. Reach out for help, if you need it
  • Find a long-term project to dive into
  • Find lightness and humor in each day
  • Remind yourself daily that this is temporary

Even with heightened levels of concern surrounding the pandemic, try to maximize value out of every day. Remember, small things can make a difference.

We created this newsletter to keep you informed. And to our community, thank you for subscribing — within the last month, we have almost double the number of subscribers. Your readership and support mean a lot to us as we continue to serve and protect you. God bless all of you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

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COVID-19 Update – Please Bag All Trash

Currently trash & recycle services will continue as normal.

Please refrain from generating additional heavy trash, such as cleaning garages, closets, extra yard work, etc. Due to extra volumes, trash is extremely heavy and our routes are running later than normal. Please be patient as we are doing our best to get all trash collected.

In response to the continuing effects of the Coronavirus and in observance of our employee’s safety, we are asking that all waste be placed in plastic bags and tied off to avoid any need for direct contact with the garbage.

Please continue to place your recycling loose in your container. Please break down all boxes and reduce in size as much as possible. If you exceed the capacity of the container, please bag and place with trash. However, if anyone in your household is exhibiting symptoms of any transmissible illness, please place recyclables in plastic bags and dispose of with your regular garbage.

Please do not call the office. Go to website www.best-trash.com for updates or contact customerservice@besttrashtexas.com.