Sheriff Message

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our deputies, detention officers, and support staff are working around the clock to ensure our residents remain safe. But it’s extremely challenging for us to do our job without potentially being exposed to the virus. The reality is that we are not immune. Within the last week, seven teammates — six deputies and one civilian clerk — tested positive for coronavirus. Please join me in praying for a speedy, full recovery.

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, including a quarantine and testing those with symptoms.

This week, the county’s Stay Home, Work Safe Order was implemented, and our primary goal is to encourage voluntary compliance. In the overwhelming number of cases, a warning is all it takes to inspire compliance. Violators who ignore warnings can face possible fines and arrest for those who put our community at risk. Let’s not let it come to that. We are all in this together. Please stay home for us!

Stay Home, Work Safe Order

As our agency moves forward with enforcement of the county’s Stay Home, Work Safe order, we want you to know some important information.

• Read the order here.
• Report violator by calling 832-839-6941.
• Feeling sick? Click here for the screening tool to determine whether you may need further assessment or need to be tested.
• If you have any questions please email them to stayhome@cjo.hctx.net.

Mental Health

Launched in 2017 with an eye toward the future, our telehealth program has been a game-changer and proved timely during this pandemic. COVID-19 has inspired stress throughout the nation, especially among our first responders. Our Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation Program (CORE) offers direct access to a master’s level mental health clinician from The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, via teleconferencing technology through an iPad. This allows patrol deputies to better assess mental health consumers out in the field in an attempt to reduce transports and hospitalizations.

We are equipping 100 deputies, including our Field Training Officers, with this technology. Deputies are currently being trained to assist them during this pandemic. We are training three to five deputies at a time, by the end of next week the training will be completed. Please remember, if you are in a mental health crisis, please know that you’re not alone, help is always available. Call 911 or 713-221-6000.

Today, we welcomed 21 new teammates into our family. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Basic County Corrections Course graduation ceremony was canceled but we did have a private small gathering for our new teammates. Now they are ready to serve our community. I wish all of you the best, and I know that you will be mentored by the best leaders and teammates. Serve with honor, and live up to the words on your patch, Pride of Texas.

We know our residents understand the severity of the pandemic. And everyone is doing all they can to keep themselves, their families and neighbors safe and healthy. The sacrifices you’re making are not in vain. We are stronger together! God bless you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

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My team and I are committed to protecting our workforce, community, and jail population against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

I want to assure our community that our commitment to serve and protect will not change during this challenging time. Every call means potential contact with someone who could be contagious. That’s why our patrol deputies have been given cleaning materials that they are using to disinfect their vehicles any time they are called upon to transport a suspect.

We are working to reduce non-essential contact between residents and deputies by temporarily restricting public access to our substations. All HCSO storefronts and substations will remain staffed — but closed to the public — as part of our efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While you will be unable to obtain offense and accident reports in person, these services are available online. Please click here for offense reports, and here for accident reports.

We have assigned more deputies to take non-emergency crime reports by phone at 713.221.6000 and online here to help with this measure. Click here for some of the types of reports they’re taking. As always, call 911 for an emergency that threatens anyone’s safety.

We are also implementing safety measures in our jail to protect our staff and those who are entrusted in our care. Cleaning crews have increased the frequency of cleaning operations. All employees and volunteers entering the jail system are being checked for fever each time they enter the building.

We also created a short informational video for our inmates, concerning the importance of proper cellblock sanitation, hand washing, and what to do if they believe they are getting sick. 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.

As we continue to see more COVID-19 cases, we’re reminding our residents to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and remain vigilant. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management created an SMS messaging service to keep residents informed.

To get regular updates text CV19 to 888777. You will receive regular SMS texts with the latest news and developments. If you want an assessment and advice on symptoms, please call Harris Health System’s Ask My Nurse seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. at 713-634-1110. To get more information please click here.

Prevention tips:

It’s also important to practice social distancing to slow the spread and to flatten the curve. And don’t forget to follow the World Health Organization advice of following five simple steps:

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Cough/sneeze into your elbow.
• Don’t touch your face.
• Stay more than 3ft (1m) away from others.
• Stay home if you feel sick.

During these difficult times, 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. Remember, you are not alone.

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to rapidly evolve, we know that with the support of our residents we can flatten the curve. We will get through this together. God bless you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

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