Sheriff Message

Our entire Sheriff’s Office family is saddened by the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our long-time brother, Sgt. Bruce Watson, and the senseless violence at a Midtown nightclub that led to three deputies wounded by gunfire and the death of a woman.

Sgt. Watson, a 20-year department veteran, was fatally struck on his way home by a vehicle in the Pearland area after serving as an off-duty motorcycle-escort for a funeral procession.

Sgt. Watson was assigned to the Patrol Support Services Bureau, working the night shift at the Emergency Dispatch Center. He joined the Sheriff’s Office in March 2000 and previously served as a Detention Sergeant in the Harris County Jail, a patrol field training officer, and an instructor at the training academy. He admirably served his country in the U.S. Army, rising through the ranks to sergeant, before returning to serve his community.

Through his life of public service, Sgt. Watson consistently invested in the next generation of deputies, mentoring them and guiding them to become our agency’s future leaders. His critical roles at our academy and in the field set the foundation for many deputies’ careers – modeling every aspect of how to apply academy knowledge to real situations involving real people and teaching young deputies the right way to do the job. For Sgt. Watson, this was one of the most rewarding assignments in all of law enforcement.

On Tuesday evening, our teammates joined fallen Sgt. Watson’s family for a candlelight vigil outside the Emergency Dispatch Center. His profound impact on the Sheriff’s Office was evident in the many anecdotes and memories shared there. He was remembered as one-of-a-kind with unmatched care for others – walking around the dispatch center to simply check in with his colleagues or occasionally bringing food for everyone to enjoy. He was also known to share words to lift his teammates during stressful times. A communications officer who worked closely with Sgt. Watson said he made it his mission to be there for you and she couldn’t have asked for a better watch command center leader. A common thread throughout the evening was Sgt. Watson’s immense pride in his newest role – grandfather – and how he embodied a great man of faith and community in all he did.

As we near Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, this past week’s tragedies are a stark reminder of the day-to-day dangers police face on the job and the work that still must be done to improve our dangerous roadways and tackle the rise in shootings and gun violence amid a pandemic.

Take a moment this Saturday to celebrate the deputies patrolling and protecting your neighborhood. These selfless men and women continue to perform their duties with the added stress of COVID-19 and the recent loss of a teammate. We are forever grateful for their endless service and sacrifice.

We’re also grateful for the support we’ve received from the Houston Police Department and extended law enforcement community across our region and country, as well as the outpouring of prayers and positive thoughts from the residents we serve. Our injured deputies remain in good spirits and continue to recover.

Please keep Sgt. Watson’s wife, a 21-year Houston Police Department veteran, and his three adult children, sister, grandbaby, and all those he touched in your thoughts during this tremendously difficult time. Donations for his family may be made in his name to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Benevolence Association.

Funeral services for Sgt. Watson will be held on Tuesday, January 12 at 10:30 a.m. The services will be live streamed on our Facebook page.

Our agency is better today because Sgt. Watson walked through our doors. Your brothers and sisters in blue have the watch from here.

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With just hours left in 2020 (we’re almost there!), we’ve been reflecting on the achievements of a year like no other — when time spent at home felt endless, when life had a way of bringing everything into perspective, and when our courageous front-line workers risked their health and lives to protect ours.

In a year when the weight of the world seemed overwhelming, there were many bright spots for our agency and the residents we serve. Here are some big ones:

• We avoided a potentially catastrophic COVID-19 outbreak in the county jail despite a rise in the jail population and a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the community.
• In response to an increase in street racing and road rage incidents, we established a Traffic Crimes Unit centered on every aspect of racing culture, street takeovers, and stunt driving. Report racing-related activities to TrafficCrimesUnit@Sheriff.hctx.net.
• We launched Project Guardian to improve our interactions and calls for service involving persons on the autism spectrum. Click here to register a loved one.
• We expanded our telehealth program that provides patrol deputies with in-hand access to a behavioral health clinician via an iPad.
• In addition to the 40-hour mental health training course at our academy, we implemented a proven de-escalation training and scenario-based program for patrol deputies and detention officers.
• We created Crime Reduction Units in all five patrol districts tasked with proactively addressing public safety issues unique to each community they serve.
• We launched a Behavioral Threat Management Unit to tackle a key component of domestic violence – stalking. The goal of the unit is to prevent volatile situations from escalating into harm or violence.
• We developed a Flood Rescue Unit to respond to rescue calls during flooding events and devoted more resources to swift water training and high-water equipment. The unit has more than 70 trained members.
• We became the first law enforcement agency in our area to implement a “cite and release” policy that has decreased the number of people jailed for low-level, non-violent crimes while still holding them accountable.
• We established the agency’s first-ever Behavioral Health Division, led by highly qualified mental health professionals, that offers a wide range of consultation and counseling services to our employees and their immediate families.
• Our five patrol districts have started hosting virtual safety forums led by the area’s captain and sergeant with support and updates from various agency leaders. Click here to sign up to be notified about your district’s next meeting.

These accomplishments are the byproduct of our commitment to better serve you and the countless relationships and partnerships we’ve developed within our communities. Your readership and support mean a lot to us. We’ve had a challenging year, and like you, we look forward to better days in the coming weeks and months ahead.

With an important year on our horizon, the need for compassion remains. A world rooted in compassion and admirable empathy is a crucial piece in building a community resilient to challenges.

I miss seeing people’s smiles and gathering in-person at community events. Let’s continue to stay the course and be kind and support each other.

Wishing you a safe and joyous New Year!

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The past nine months have shown us that compassion and empathy can save the day. We have witnessed countless displays of neighbors helping neighbors and overwhelming support from our community for front-line workers.

During this challenging year, the term “essential worker” took on a whole new meaning – from our medical personnel and corrections workers who helped us avoid a potentially catastrophic outbreak in the county jail to the grocers that kept our families and communities fed. We are deeply moved by how everyone – health care workers, students, teachers, postal workers, first responders, and community members – rose to the occasion every day.

Just this week, we received more toy donations from members of our extended Sheriff’s Office family to reach deserving children in our community. Ms. Torres has partnered with PetSmart since 2010 to donate stuffed animals during the holiday season to police agencies in our region. More than 180 cuddly teddy bears, lamas, and unicorns will bring comfort to those in need. Ms. Torres is the mother to two detention officers, one of them a cadet in our Basic Peace Officer Course, and a mother-in-law to a sergeant. The stuffed animals will go to Operation Blue Sleigh led by deputy wives Victoria Viruette and Perla Dabbraccio. The two women joined forces after hearing about the many children their husbands encountered throughout their daily shifts. The initiative provides our deputies with gifts to hand out to these children, lifting their spirits, spreading holiday cheer, and building a strong bond between them and our deputies. If you’re interested in making a toy donation or learning more about this great cause, click here.

The compassion and resilience that so many in our community have shown this year is inspiring. As we celebrate Christmas and the holiday season, I just wanted to pause and express my gratitude for your support.

Some of our teammates will work through the holidays, sacrificing time spent with their loved ones. Our job never stops, and I’m grateful for those who serve and protect our residents with honor and courage.

I hope everyone enjoys time with their loved ones. We’re so grateful for your readership and partnership and wish you and yours a restful and joyous holiday!

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Now in its 26th year, our annual holiday toy drive brings smiles and joyful memories to the children served by the Children’s Assessment Center, an advocacy center dedicated to providing coordinated services to abused children in our area. Every holiday season, Sheriff’s Office employees sponsor children of all ages and purchase toys, bikes, and gift cards from their wish lists to help make their holidays brighter.

On Wednesday, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted us as we unloaded a semi-truck full of more than 800 gifts for 400 children. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation also stopped by with 100 festive teddy bears.

Our close, long-time partnership with the Children’s Assessment Center has helped ensure the well-being and safety of our community’s most valuable asset. It’s an essential tool in our toolbox to address many forms of child abuse. Our Crimes Against Children Unit investigators, whose mission is to thoroughly investigate allegations of child abuse, work hand in hand with the advocacy center to provide abused children with the proper assistance, treatment, and services to start their healing process.

It’s a serious, heartbreaking issue and one we cannot confront alone. As an agency, we participate in a coordinated response against child abuse that includes partnering with advocates.

I’m thankful to lead an agency that comes together during this special time of the year to
benefit children in our community. The generosity of my teammates, especially at a time when the pandemic has created a bigger need for families and fewer resources to help them, fills me with pride.

Also, as part of Operation Blue Sleigh, the spouses of two deputies collected toys at Alexander Deussen Park in northeast Harris County on Thursday for our first responders to have on hand when they are out in their communities and encounter less fortunate children during their shifts.

Our community’s giving spirit makes a difference in the lives of children who may not have experienced the warmth and joy of the holidays without their neighbor’s support.

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