Sheriff Message

During the month of April, hundreds of our sworn personnel will proudly wear a commemorative blue badge on their uniform that prominently features the autism awareness puzzle piece to bring attention to Autism Spectrum Disorder and to support those living with it.

We are in our communities across Harris County every day, and this is a small way to send a big message: We’re here to serve all residents with compassion and understanding.

The distinctive light blue badge with the puzzle piece emblem and engraved words “Help Create a Kinder World” reinforces our promise to do all we can to improve our interactions with residents, including those with a developmental disability or those experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis. It serves as a reminder to residents of what we can accomplish together.

This is the first year of the Blue Badges for Autism Awareness program and the Sheriff’s Office ordered 734 commemorative badges, more than any other law enforcement agency in the nation!

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 54 children has autism. Just this year, deputies responded to more than 1,370 calls for service with a mental health component. Many of those calls involved a person with autism.

Last fall, we launched a new initiative called Project Guardian to help our deputies minimize stress by alerting them in advance that they’re about to interact with a person on the autism spectrum.

The initiative is one of many innovative mental health and outreach programs supporting our patrol deputies and making our neighborhoods better places to live.

A simple interaction with law enforcement could be a traumatic situation for a person with autism. Project Guardian encourages families or caregivers to provide a photo of their loved one and their interests or characteristics, such as whether the person is sensitive to loud noises or finds bright lights upsetting.

The online registry is free and equips deputies with critical information on a person’s special needs and proven calming methods. Families are also given a Project Guardian decal to display on a front window to quickly alert deputies someone is enrolled in the program.

Project Guardian and Project Lifesaver Coordinator Deputy Schubert

For Deputy Schubert, the most rewarding part of her job is speaking with and meeting families. “They all express how grateful they are that we truly care about their loved ones’ well-being,” she said. “Family members share their realistic fears of their child being misunderstood for their actions. A mother once told me, ‘I want people to know that there is more of my son than what meets the eye.’”

Since its launch, we’ve enrolled over 100 participants in the program. Our team follows up on incident reports mentioning autism, informing families of the potential for Project Guardian to be life-changing.

We’ve also helped our friends at Katy Police Department roll out Project Guardian to help individuals with autism in their area. Our Behavioral Health Training Unit shared their experiences and recommendations on how to design a program that is right for their community. We’re talking to other area law enforcement agencies about implementation.

We can’t do this alone. We work closely with advocacy groups, nonprofits, and mental health care centers, such as The Harris Center, NAMI Greater Houston, The Menninger Clinic, Autism Speaks, and Autism Moms of Houston. We’re always learning more about how persons with autism may react or shut down and continue to build on our crucial crisis intervention and de-escalation training.

We encourage you to come together to create a more inclusive community that celebrates our differences.

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In honor of Women’s History Month, join me in celebrating the remarkable women in our agency who have dedicated their lives to serving others.

These women pursued careers in law enforcement for various reasons – many wanted to make a meaningful impact in the very community where they lived, to work toward building trust between peace officers and neighbors, and for their sheriff’s office to be as diverse as Harris County.

They don’t all wear our uniforms. They’re not all in the same division or do the same job. They work in all areas of our agency but have the same passion and drive for our mission. Whether on the front lines or behind-the-scenes, the work they do every day, individually and collectively, is important and helps make our neighborhoods a better, safer place.

At a time when our communities are growing more diverse, residents must meet deputies and police officers who look like them, who understand their community’s needs and challenges, and who share their experiences and perspectives.

We’re highlighting only a couple of the women who are taking us to new heights and leading us into a new era of policing rooted in partnerships, innovative strategies and approaches, data analysis, and proven training.

Meet Patrol Bureau Major Susan Cotter

Major Cotter oversees the largest and most visible component of the agency often tasked with providing the initial response to calls for service.

She joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1991 as a certified jailer. She has since served in several roles, including a juvenile probation drill instructor, patrol deputy, accident investigator, auto theft investigator, drug recognition expert instructor, and standardized field sobriety testing instructor.

Major Cotter’s passion for safe roadways has set the bar in traffic enforcement. She’s had a big impact in the fight against preventable crashes and deaths throughout her public service career.

Major Cotter speaks with urgency about the need for law enforcement to be in the community interacting with residents about the day-to-day happenings in their neighborhoods. She still enjoys being in a patrol vehicle and responding to scenes.

Meet Detention Support Services Bureau Major Eleanor Jones

Major Jones joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a certified jailer. She has since held many roles and assignments, including Motorist Assistance Program deputy, narcotics investigator, homicide detective, shift and unit supervisor, and division commander.

Major Jones now oversees a broad number of critical support functions that are an integral part of the Criminal Justice Command and serve the more than 8,000 incarcerated persons in our care. This bureau provides detainees with food, transportation to medical care, proper sanitation conditions for personal hygiene, clergy visitations, access to legal resources, and literacy and rehabilitation programs.

She understands the importance of investing in people to reach their full potential. These programs, resources, and opportunities empower people with the tools, skills, and support to be successful when returning to their communities.

Our women in blue are showing our young girls and future leaders that they, too, can succeed as a patrol deputy, investigator, detention officer, crime analyst, dispatcher, victim advocate, command staff member, or as any of the other essential roles throughout our agency. They have given the next generation a chance to see themselves in them and feel empowered to chart their own course.

Communities need more women in law enforcement. We’re seeking diverse perspectives and want to hire and promote those who embody our core values. If you’re looking to make a difference, learn more about our career opportunities here.

This month is a moment for us to pause and honor the hardworking women in our agency. We’re grateful for their daily dedication, countless contributions, and commitment to our profession.

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Street racing is a dangerous and growing concern within our community that stretches to every corner of our region and far beyond our state.

Earlier this week, we joined our partners from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office at Houston Raceway Park’s starting line to urge car race fans to practice their hobby on legal racetracks and not on our roads and highways.

The call for an end to the street racing and public road takeovers that have plagued our roadways comes as race aficionados converge in Baytown this week for TX2K21 Roll & Drag Race Nationals. TX2K has evolved into the premier streetcar event in the country, drawing thousands of car enthusiasts for the annual, days-long affair featuring roll racing, drag racing, and a car show.

This event has given drivers a safe and legal way to race each other and spectators a safe environment to cheer them on. It’s a controlled environment surrounded by experienced track officials and medical staff.

We stand shoulder to shoulder in our efforts to double down on our mission to keep racing on the tracks and off our streets. We’re grateful for responsible business owners and car enthusiasts, like Houston Raceway Park owner Seth Angel, who lead by example and put the safety of our community front and center.

We know the overwhelming majority of TX2K attendees understand how to have fun while respecting the safety of others. We know many are just as frustrated at those who make the misguided choice to race on the same roads our family and loved ones use every day.

We have seen the deadly consequences and devastation firsthand. Just last month, our patrol deputies and traffic investigators responded to a tragic incident that resulted in a crash that ended the lives of two teenage brothers and an onlooker visiting Houston from New Jersey.

In response to the growing problem, we established a Traffic Crimes Unit centered on every aspect of street racing culture, parking lot takeovers, and stunt driving. These deputies are on the front lines of shutting down aggressive drivers, responding to tips and areas of concern from residents, and working with our patrol districts and partners on conducting regular initiatives.

We will be out in full force throughout spring break targeting street racers. There will also be unmarked patrol vehicles and air support to assist with calls for service and to spot street races from the air.

Our dedicated Traffic Crimes Unit has written traffic citations, made felony arrests on charges that include reckless driving, racing on a highway, and deadly conduct, and made misdemeanor arrests for DWI and other offenses. Our deputies have also seized numerous vehicles that were used to commit these crimes.

As we’re making arrests, we’re also seeing other criminal activity.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has reportedly seen about 90 cars seized by law enforcement agencies participating in this joint initiative. Beyond seizing the cars, the District Attorney’s Office is moving to forfeit vehicles involved in at-risk car crimes.

For those seeking an outlet to relieve the stresses brought on by the pandemic; or those looking for a proving ground, Houston Raceway Park welcomes drivers to safely race on their track as many times as they want on any Friday night for just $20.

Public safety is a shared responsibility. You play a critical role in keeping your neighborhood safe and we rely on you to be the extra eyes and ears on your block.

We need your continued support. If you know someone who is racing or playing a part in organizing street takeovers, report them. For those encouraging or spreading the word about these underground activities, you can be a party to some of these crimes.

Report street racing activities:

• Call our non-emergency line at 713-221-6000.
• Email our Traffic Crimes Unit at TrafficCrimesTips@sheriff.hctx.net.

If you’re a race fan, don’t give street racers an audience. It’s dangerous. It emboldens them.

If you’re attending TX2K21, don’t let the racing spill into the streets after the event.

Don’t risk your life or the lives of others. The short-lived adrenaline and thrill aren’t worth a lifetime of heartache and devastation if an innocent life is lost.

We cannot do this alone. This truly is a collaborative effort on all fronts. It takes all of us doing our part to address this serious issue.

Safety is our priority, and we stand together and ready to protect the residents we serve.

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At the Sheriff’s Office, we have been working hard to implement strategies and solutions to better serve and protect our residents and to keep building trust.

We recently formed the Community Problem-Oriented Policing Unit, also known as CPOP, to foster meaningful relationships with residents, gain insight into the unique needs of each community, and empower people with knowledge and resources through our partners.

Each patrol district will have two dedicated deputies who will spend their time getting to know the businesses, schools, houses of worship, and neighborhoods in their area. They will start to establish relationships with the neighbors that make up the community.

In all of these efforts, the goal is to get the community involved before a crime takes place; to create a bond before a crisis erupts. This way, residents feel more empowered to share what’s on their mind and what public safety concerns or issues on their block keep them up at night. And that makes us all safer.

We’re using community policing and data to drive down crime and enhance our quality of life. We want to ensure that the residents we serve are our partners; that we’re all working together to tackle problems, especially the hard ones.

Last week, we announced the move toward a greater reliance on data analysis to identify the nexus of crashes and crime. The proven operational model called Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) improves deployment decisions, keeps deputies and residents informed, and demonstrates the power of data to address disproportionately affected areas.

As an agency, we’re always exploring innovative approaches that align with our core values, promote transparency and accountability, and focus on engaging residents in a deeper way.

Our neighbors should bring concerns to the deputies patrolling their community. Our deputies should actively include their voices – even those critical of law enforcement – in conversations around strategies for resolving problems in their neighborhood.

CPOP deputies will be knocking on doors, reviewing calls for service, working collaboratively with district commanders and various units across our agency, and seeking community input through surveys and forums. They will be following up with residents to make sure their issues were properly resolved. They will connect people with critical resources through our partners, such as the United Way of Greater Houston and BakerRipley, to assist them with their needs.

Over the next several weeks, the CPOP Unit will attend training focused on the relational policing and community policing models and will work with patrol district leaders on an action plan to rollout in their areas.

As peace officers, our actions must be driven by our training and love for our community. Over the past year, civil unrest over racial justice has led to countless demonstrations across our country. For some, it meant an erosion of trust in law enforcement. Our deputies must be ready and determined to meet this moment. Their work must be an extension of our core values.

We want to help build a foundation so that we can trust each other and rely on each other. And that’s what community is about – the idea that we’re all in this together. That’s the ultimate goal.

During the recent winter storm, you may have seen a social media post from District V Patrol Commander, Capt. Kinnard-Bing, that went viral. Our deputies responded to a call at a hotel in northwest Harris County where they learned a patron couldn’t afford the room for the night. The deputies covered the overnight cost for the hotel room to keep the patron and his family safe and warm.

Their actions were met by a flood of supportive posts from our followers who thanked the deputies and offered to pay for more nights at the hotel if the family was still in need. And that’s not just a testament to our deputies – because when the act of kindness went viral, folks across our county began asking how they could help, too.

That’s Harris County at its best. That’s good police work. That’s what so many of you in our community represent. Let’s keep pushing our world in the right direction – toward lending a helping hand to those in need; toward being a good neighbor; toward equity and fairness.

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