Our entire Sheriff’s Office family is grieving the sudden and heartbreaking loss of our long-time brother, Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez, and the senseless murder of Harris County Precinct 5 Cpl. Charles Galloway during a traffic stop in west Houston. And on Thursday, three Houston Police Department police officers were in stable condition after being shot near Third Ward.
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 continue to improve dangerous roadways and gun violence in our communities.
Sgt. Gutierrez, a 20-year agency veteran, was fatally struck by a suspected intoxicated driver while serving as an off-duty motorcycle escort for an oversized load in northeast Harris County.
Sgt. Gutierrez was a supervisor in the Vehicular Crimes Division. He joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2002 and previously served as a detention officer, patrol deputy, and accident investigator.
On Thursday evening, we came together for a candlelight vigil outside East Aldine District in honor of his memory. Sgt. Gutierrez’s profound impact on the Sheriff’s Office was evident in the many anecdotes shared there.
The untimely loss of Sgt. Gutierrez came as we prepared to celebrate the life of Deputy Amanda Crowder.
Deputy Crowder knew early on she wanted to earn the badge and wear the uniform.
In 2007, she began her law enforcement career as a detention officer at the Harris County Jail. At 19, she was entrusted with the custody and care of those inside the largest jail in Texas.
In 2011, she completed basic peace officer training at the University of Houston-Downtown, where she paved the way to fulfill her dreams of becoming a police officer.
Before rejoining our agency in 2014, she served as a police officer at Metro Police Department for nearly three years. She quickly made a mark on the community she swore a sacred oath to protect.
Deputy Crowder was assigned to the evening shift in Patrol District 2 in northeast Harris County, where she was a proud member of the Aldine Proactive Unit. These deputies focus on reducing crime through high-visibility policing efforts and engaging with the Aldine area community.
Before her latest assignment, Deputy Crowder spent four years with our Special Investigations Division. Here she was part of the elite undercover team that investigated street and mid-level drug trafficking and criminal organizations.
This investigative work is very detail-oriented. It takes dedication. It takes persistence. Deputy Crowder was a meticulous investigator. If you gave her a challenge, she’d meet you at that challenge.
In 2019, she was part of the team of Vice investigators who received a commendation award for their critical role in arresting 80 men for solicitation of prostitution during a month-long investigation.
Deputy Crowder was a consistent reminder – and shining example – of what is expected from Sheriff’s Office deputies. Our job as peace officers came so naturally to her. She was a good cop. She worked hard.
Beyond her serious commitment to the job, Deputy Crowder was the kind of person everyone wanted to be around. She made it a point to build bonds with her teammates through her infectious energy and smile.
At the center of her world were her daughters. That was her greatest assignment of all.
We honor the memories of Deputy Crowder and Sgt. Gutierrez by matching their devotion and sense of pride in our profession. Please keep their families and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this tremendously difficult time.