Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Meet Our Boarding Home Detail

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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Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – In Loving Memory of Deputy Shaun Waters

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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Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Missing in Harris County Day

In 2020, 10,524 new missing person cases were filed in Harris County. 7,355 of those cases were missing children. Missing person cases can include runaway children, family abductions, victims of kidnapping or other violent crimes, and persons with mental disabilities who have wandered.

On Saturday, August 7, we join the Texas Center for the Missing and other agencies with a mission to find missing persons for Missing in Harris County Day. This annual event brings together law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, and missing person networks to help our community navigate the missing person system through connections, resources, and support.

Missing in Harris County Day
Saturday, August 7
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Children’s Assessment Center
2500 Bolsover St. Houston, Texas 77005

You can complete the 3-step process for filing a missing persons report, and learn about the next steps to take:

  1. Report a Missing Person
  2. Missing Persons Database Entry
  3. Voluntary Identification Swab Submissions

A Joint Effort To Bring Our Loved Ones Home

  • The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department will take reports for missing persons and updates from the families of the missing.
  • A representative will enter missing person information into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) information clearinghouse and resource center.
  • Forensic professionals will collect voluntary familial DNA identification samples onsite to submit into a missing person database.
  • Bilingual staff will be in attendance to help Spanish speakers access resources and complete a missing person report.
  • Family members with a missing loved one can participate in a private roundtable discussion and support group.
  • There will be panel discussions addressing the issue of missing persons.

What To Bring

Loved ones should plan to bring information to the event for data entry or information updates in the national missing persons database.

  • Photos of the missing person with any identifying features, such as tattoos or birthmarks, or personal items, such as favorite earrings
  • X-rays, dental or medical records
  • Police reports or other identifying documents that can be filed
  • At least one biological relative from the mother’s side of the missing person to submit DNA identification samples via cheek swab
  • Photos, posters, or literature to display on the Wall of the Missing to commemorate missing loved ones and for all event attendees to view information on the missing persons

Collaborative Approach

The Texas Center for the Missing is a valuable partner that plays a significant role in impacting the issue of missing persons through awareness, prevention education, training, and emergency programs. Our partners at TCM understand the need for shared resources and strategic collaborations.

“It’s a privilege to put this badge on every day and do what I do,” said Investigator O’Leary, who focuses on cold cases in our Missing Persons Unit.

“For me, staying in contact with the families of the missing, no matter how much time passes, lets them know someone still cares about finding their loved one.”

Our Missing Persons Unit takes a coordinated approach to search for and locate people who have disappeared.

Our investigators gather critical information to locate the missing person, conduct thorough interviews, identify the circumstances of the disappearance, and initiate the collection of DNA samples from the missing person’s family members.

They work with law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, such as Texas DPS and the FBI, and advocacy organizations.

Our hearts are with the families of every missing person. May you find hope and strength as you continue your search for answers. We are with you. For more information on Missing in Harris County Day, visit the TCM website or email support@tcftm.org.

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Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez – Building a Strong Culture

At the Sheriff’s Office, we know it’s not enough to have strong policies in place. Building an agencywide culture that supports proven peer intervention strategies is key to preventing harm, promoting deputy wellness, and maintaining the public’s trust.

Our deputies and detention officers swore an oath to protect our communities and those in our custody – they show courage every shift and willingly put themselves in danger to keep others safe. Still, confronting their teammates and supervisors about something they did wrong can be difficult. Policing has a hierarchical structure with a high value on being loyal to fellow brothers and sisters in blue.

In late June, we implemented a training program called Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement, or ABLE, that equips our frontline personnel with practical skills and tactics to prevent misconduct, reduce mistakes, and enhance deputy health and wellness. It was designed by policing researchers at Georgetown University Law School.

This meaningful training shows our deputies and those on the frontlines inside our jail how to intervene consistently, safely, and effectively. Our teammates also learn to overcome inhibitors, such as apprehension to address a mistake made by a supervisor, that may keep them from becoming active bystanders.

The intervention can span from seeking help for a fellow deputy who seems angry or depressed to stopping a deputy in the field from using excessive force.

Deputy Wells is our dedicated program coordinator and lead ABLE instructor. He was chosen to conduct the training because of his experience at our academy and in the field.

He has worked inside the county jail as a detention officer, patrolled the streets as a deputy, served as a member of our elite SWAT team, and worked as a Field Training Officer. He’s also certified to teach Crisis Intervention Training to help guide interactions between our first responders and those in a mental health crisis.

“There are so many different forms of intervention,” said Deputy Wells. “We have a strong foundation of being there for one another already. It’s evident through our Wellness Unit, Office of Military Relations, Behavioral Health Division, and other valuable agency resources.”

“It’s about taking this mindset and thinking about small, everyday acts that could have a big impact. It’s correcting a fellow deputy when you notice he wrote down the wrong block number on a report. It’s telling an agency veteran he didn’t properly search a suspect. It’s taking over when someone is starting to lose their cool. It comes down to what’s morally right.”

ABLE in Action

Deputy Wells starts the class by asking students to define peer intervention and active bystandership. He then calls on them to share times when they did or didn’t intervene, asking what impact their action had on the situation.

Participants learn how to:

  • Notice the need for an intervention.
  • Decide when and how to intervene.
  • Intervene effectively using multiple tactics.

The day-long training includes group discussions, scenarios, case studies, and role-playing.

Deputy Wells presents real situations from other police departments, including a scenario where a homicide detective coping with lack of sleep and stress from working long hours made an inappropriate joke at an active scene. He talks about the concepts of responsibility, authority figures, and the power of the bystander as he continuously references these scenarios throughout the training.

As an agency, we’ve made significant strides to advance our mission and fulfill our core values through dedicated training, collaborative partnerships, and holistic programs. These critical and necessary steps at all levels within the agency – with strong support from the highest levels of our command staff – enhance the importance of mental health among our ranks and improve our response to our community’s public safety needs. To learn more about ABLE and our commitment to the 10 ABLE standards, click here.

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