Sheriff Message

In honor of Memorial Day, our team members visited the Houston National Cemetery to place 839 American flags on the graves of past service members and to pay our respects to our fallen heroes. We solemnly unite in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation.

It was an important reminder of the neighbors and loved ones we’ve lost and a moment to salute their legacy and ultimate sacrifice. We paused to reflect on the distinguished history of our armed forces and the battles – even those well beyond war – our country’s veterans endured for the opportunities we have today.

As a tribute to the fallen service men and women and their families across our communities, a bugler from the Sherriff’s Office Honor Guard sounded the moving music of Taps, a solemn and emotional signal of mourning and what Memorial Day is all about.

Houston has one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, with more than 300,000 military veterans calling our community home. Veterans are our neighbors, our colleagues, and our leaders. They represent and embody everything we should aspire to be – resilient and service-minded. Their stories and experiences inspire others to give back with pride.

At the Sheriff’s Office, we also honor the many military veterans in our agency who continue to serve their communities. Veterans are represented in various roles, sworn and civilian, and at all levels of the agency. We benefit greatly from their wealth of experience and commitment to teamwork and serving others.

We empower our veterans and foster a supportive culture for them. Our Office of Military Relations provides a wide range of support to our team members who are current military service members and veterans, as well as those in our larger community who served their country.

As an agency, we’re always searching for ways to better support those who served, implementing department policies, procedures, and programs that equip them with a strong support system and a holistic approach to meeting their needs. Every veteran receives a welcome packet from our Office of Military Relations with valuable agency resources and contacts that will help them fulfill their military service or make their transition easier. We also work collaboratively with community partners, such as Combined Arms and the Travis Manion Foundation, to facilitate access to additional services. If you’re looking to make a difference, learn more about our career opportunities here. We’re grateful for the veterans in our ranks and their countless contributions to the Sheriff’s Office.

This Memorial Day weekend, and all year long, we celebrate our country’s true heroes who have fought and sacrificed for our liberty and freedom. We owe them an enduring debt of gratitude.

God bless you, and God bless the Sheriff’s Office.

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As storms quickly developed over our area earlier this week, we braced for a potentially dangerous flash flood event. The heavy showers and thunderstorms remained a concern through early Thursday.

Although flooding was mainly confined to isolated areas and roads, the possible negative impact of the severe weather conditions came less than two weeks before the start of this year’s hurricane season.

It’s a good reminder of the need to stay alert, take all necessary precautions, and follow the guidance of local officials:

• Stay off the roads. If you must go out, check road conditions on Houston TranStar’s traffic map.
• Monitor the local NWS forecast and sign up for emergency alerts at Ready Harris.
• Monitor rainfall data, bayou flooding levels, and current flooded roads, parks, and low-lying areas at the Harris County Flood Warning System website.
• Give yourself time to purchase disaster supplies and prepare your emergency food, water, and medical necessities.
• Follow local guidance about updated plans for evacuations and shelters.

We always monitor and prepare for the worst-case scenario and encourage our residents to do the same. Since Hurricane Harvey’s historic landfall, our agency has devoted more staff and resources to high-water equipment and swift water rescue training to better ensure the safety of our communities.

Several vehicles were submerged in high water on the Grand Parkway Toll Road near Boudreaux Rd. and Gleannlock Forest Dr. in north Harris County.

When storms threaten, we strategically stage our fleet of rescue vehicles and watercraft throughout the county so we are be poised to act when called upon.

It is important to have an emergency plan and a disaster kit in place as weather forecasts can change quickly. Stay informed and be ready before a storm hits.

Stop Human Trafficking

Houston is considered a major hub for all forms of human trafficking. Our Human Trafficking Unit investigators play a critical role in identifying and combating these horrific cases that often victimize our most vulnerable neighbors. The prevalence of human trafficking, which involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or sex, is difficult to gauge due to underreporting and the crime hiding behind businesses.

Our coordinated response against human trafficking includes working collaboratively with law enforcement agencies, encouraging residents to report traffickers and potential human trafficking victims, and connecting victims to social service organizations that provide the necessary tools and resources to empower them.

We conduct proactive investigations and participate in multi-partner operations, where we locate victims based on intelligence that we have developed. The Sheriff’s Office is a proud member of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance, a regional task force aimed at identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking. The task force is made up of local, state, and federal agencies and combines resources to target human traffickers and connect victims of all forms of human trafficking, including labor and sex trafficking, to victims’ services.

In our latest effort to combat this epidemic that’s often hidden in plain sight in our communities, our Human Trafficking Unit organized a three-day operation from May 12-14. The first day was spent in east Harris County area hot spots for sex trafficking and prostitution. The remainder of the targeted operation was held at a hotel in northwest Harris County. It led to 17 arrests, including prostitution charges and open felony arrests.

During these operations, undercover deputies may pose as those running a prostitution ring or those soliciting sex for money. They will also arrange meetings with people who may be trafficked victims, with the hopes they can lead investigators to the traffickers.

Command Post

A human trafficking investigator meets with the victims at the arranged location, such as a hotel, for an initial conversation about their situation. We also establish a nearby command post with human trafficking investigators, victim advocates, and Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners nurses.

Partners

Victims are able to share their stories in-depth and provide investigators with any relevant information leading up to that moment.

A team of forensic nurses, who have specialized knowledge and skills to care for patients who have experienced sexual assault or human trafficking related injuries, provide on-site medical care and exams. Our victim advocate partners from YMCA International Services connect them to critical services and resources, such as counseling and basic needs support.

Collaboration among law enforcement agencies and the community is key to raising awareness of this issue and disrupting human trafficking activity. If you or someone you know might be a victim of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

We stand together with those who are being trafficked, survivors, and the many advocates in our region whose mission is to end human trafficking for all.

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At the Sherriff’s Office, we understand how crucial it is for everyone to care about mental health and mental wellbeing. Our mental health can influence how we think, feel, and act. We take great pride in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month and strive every day to serve our residents with compassion while prioritizing our community’s safety.

With your support, we’ve made significant strides in actively addressing behavioral health and homelessness concerns through dedicated training, collaborative partnerships, and innovative programs. These critical and necessary steps promote the importance of mental health in our community and improve our response to our community’s mental health needs.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults lives with a mental illness. Since the beginning of this year, deputies responded to 2,508 calls for service and generated 1,800 reports with a behavioral health component. About 70% of those reports involved an emergency detention order.

Our Special Projects Unit has developed several leading mental health and outreach programs supporting our patrol deputies. Our work serves as a reminder of what we can accomplish together and reinforces our promise to do all we can to improve our interactions with residents, including those with a developmental disability, substance abuse issue, or mental health illness.

Our behavioral health programs and collaborations enhance public safety, better triage calls, and reduce visits to hospital emergency rooms. And when it makes sense, divert persons in need of treatment from the criminal justice system toward more appropriate care, resources, and services.

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Every year, communities across our state and nation pause to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in duty and service to their community through memorial services, ceremonies, and candlelight vigils. Tied to National Police Week, it’s a time for us as neighbors to collectively honor the courage and legacy of these fallen heroes.

Over the weekend, we joined dozens of law enforcement agencies for the Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony in Austin, a few blocks from our state capitol grounds. Gov. Abbott presented medals to the families of those who died in 2019 and 2020 during the tribute, including the family of our fallen brother Deputy Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal. As Deputy Dhaliwal’s name was added to the memorial monument, we stood by his father. He would have turned 44 years old on Monday.

On Thursday evening, we hosted the 2021 Harris County Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at Crime Stoppers of Houston’s headquarters, along with our partners at the Harris County Constable Offices and Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation. County Judge Lina Hidalgo delivered a heartfelt keynote address.

These fallen heroes received a special honor during the memorial:

• Deputy Omar Diaz | End of Watch: July 6, 2019
• Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal | End of Watch: Sept. 27, 2019
• Sgt. Raymond Scholwinski | End of Watch: May 6, 2020
• Deputy Juan Menchaca | End of Watch: June 13, 2020
• Honorary Deputy Cornelius Anderson | End of Watch: July 12, 2020
• Precinct 5 Constable Deputy Mark Brown | End of Watch: July 25, 2020
• Deputy Johnny Tunches | End of Watch: Nov. 2, 2020
• Detention Officer Robert Perez | End of Watch: Feb. 2, 2021
• Deputy Alexander Gwosdz | End of Watch: April 22, 2021

Their names are now engraved on the granite tribute towers at the Harris County Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Garden.

It’s an annual remembrance with Harris County law enforcement leaders, peace officers, public officials, and the family members of the fallen Harris County deputies. The memorial is a solemn reminder of the duty that peace officers carry out and the sacrifices they and their loved ones make.

During the ceremony, members of our Honor Guard and our county’s law enforcement leaders read the names of those who had died, offering yellow roses to the survivors. The ceremony included a memorial roll call, Taps, rider-less horse, 21-gun salute, and flyover.

Our agency has recorded 51 in the line of duty deaths since its formation in 1837. We were truly blessed to have each of them in our Sheriff’s Office family. An additional 19 Harris County peace officers have also given everything in service to our profession.

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has added a layer of risk to our jobs. It’s taken the lives of five of our colleagues and friends.

Our fallen brothers in blue rose to the occasion and answered the call, day in and day out. It’s the oath they swore and the promise they made to Harris County residents. They served with dignity and distinction until their final days.

As peace officers, we are a part of a big family of public servants. This includes the loved ones behind our badges and our extended family in blue at partner agencies. Every single shift, their family served with them.

Wearing this badge is a crucial undertaking. It’s a symbol of public faith and trust.

Whether it’s patrolling a neighborhood, finding a lost child, investigating a fatal crash, ensuring the safety of those in our jail facilities, or any of our other countless duties, protecting communities is what we do.

What unites us is so much more than a uniform, a badge, or a patch; It’s an unwavering commitment to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live.

Our fallen deputies did just that.

This is also an opportunity to acknowledge and thank those currently protecting our community. They must now carry on this important work. We value their service and continued dedication to public safety.

We encourage you to visit our memorial page to learn more about our fallen heroes. Their love for the job inspires so many of us to press on. We miss them dearly.

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