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Visit the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homepage
Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:
There are moments in this work that remind us why we serve. The 2026 Harris County Sheriff’s Foundation Fallen Peace Officers’ Memorial was one of them.
For nearly five decades, the HCSO Honor Guard has carried forward a sacred tradition — standing at attention, presenting arms, and ensuring that the men and women who gave their lives in service to this community are never forgotten. This year was no different. And yet, every year, it means something more.
The ceremony brought together law enforcement officers, community leaders, and the families of our fallen — united in grief, in gratitude, and in the unspoken understanding that some sacrifices are simply beyond measure. Undersheriff Thomas Diaz delivered remarks on behalf of the agency, reaffirming what every person in that room already knows: the Harris County Sheriff’s Office does not forget its own.
For HCSO and the Harris County Constables’ Offices, this memorial is more than a ceremony. It is a covenant. A promise made year after year to the families who continue living with the weight of loss — that their loved ones did not die in anonymity, that their names will be spoken, and that their legacies will endure in every badge worn and every call answered in their honor.
To those families, we offer our deepest sympathy and our most sincere gratitude. The debt we owe our fallen can never be repaid in full. But we can honor it — not just on this day, but in every day that follows.
This year, that commitment carried us beyond Harris County. HCSO joined agencies from across Texas in Austin for the 2026 Texas Peace Officers’ Memorial — standing shoulder to shoulder with the law enforcement family to honor the fallen from every corner of our state.
And this year, three names were added to that memorial. Three members of our HCSO family, now etched in stone:
🕯️ Detention Officer Robert Perez
🕯️ Deputy Shaun Christopher Waters
🕯️ Deputy Bryan “Brad” Sweetman
Their names are permanent now. Carved into stone so that no one — not time, not distance, not the rush of daily life — can erase what they meant to this agency and to the people they served.
They are no longer with us in the way we wish they could be. But they are present in the culture of this agency, in the values we uphold, in the bonds that hold this law enforcement family together through the hardest of days.
Gone, but never forgotten. Always in our hearts. 💙🕯️
Harris County Peace Officers’ Memorial Service 2026
“We Are Coming for You”: Operation Felon Hard Times
There is a warrant list in Harris County. And one by one, we are working through every name on it.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the FBI, DEA Houston Division, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, announced the results of Operation Felon Hard Times — a multi-agency warrant roundup weeks in the making and built on one simple principle: violent fugitives do not get to disappear.
During April, law enforcement made 252 arrests and cleared 381 warrants — cases involving murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, and crimes against children. Behind every one of those numbers is a victim — a real person whose life was forever changed by violence.
Undersheriff Tommy Diaz put it plainly: “Every one of those numbers represents a victim — someone whose life was changed by violence. These arrests don’t undo that, but they help stop the next crime from happening.”
The Cases That Stood Out
- Corey Comeaux, 24: was wanted for the March 24 shooting death of 31-year-old Joseph Manuel Jr. in Beaumont. On April 8, the U.S. Marshals’ Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force located Comeaux in the Houston area and took him into custody. He is currently held in Jefferson County Jail on a $1.5 million bond.
- Carlos Sanchez, 43: was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting his own stepdaughter in the face — because he believed she was interfering with his illegal rooster-fighting ring. On April 10, the Violent Person Warrant Task Force located and arrested Sanchez. He is now held in Harris County Jail.
- Luis Antonio Aguilar Nava, 34: was wanted for a fatal stabbing in Pasadena on April 14. The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force tracked him to a motel in Southeast Houston. On April 15, the task force surrounded the location and Nava surrendered without incident. He is held at Harris County Jail without bond.
- Joe Nathan Ball, 33: had been wanted in Washington State for the sexual assault of a minor, family violence, and harassment. He left, apparently believing distance would protect him from accountability. He was wrong. Working alongside the Bremerton Police Department, HCSO units located Ball at a residence in Spring, Texas, surrounded the home, and took him into custody without incident. He is now awaiting extradition back to Washington to face those charges.
The Message Behind the Mission
Operations like this one do not happen by accident. They happen because agencies pick up the phone, share intelligence, and show up for each other — and more importantly, for the communities they serve.
Undersheriff Diaz was direct in his message to survivors: “We see you. This work is for you.”
And to anyone in Harris County still carrying an active warrant — the message was equally direct: “There is no place to hide. We will work across county and state lines to find you. If you have a warrant in Harris County, we are coming for you.”
HCSO In the News
Click2Houston: Off-duty HCSO deputy shot while sleeping in Houston home, officials say
An off-duty Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting while sleeping at his north Houston home early Sunday morning.
KHOU11: Man arrested after pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash along Tomball Parkway, HCSO says
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man has been arrested after a man was killed in a hit-and-run crash along the Tomball Parkway feeder road Thursday night, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash happened at 7:55 p.m. along the feeder road at Grant Road.
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Teammates of the Week
Harris County Sheriff’s Office Teammate of the Week: Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the HCSO highlight exceptional teammates who serve others above and beyond their duties. We regularly receive positive emails, thank you notes, and phone calls from the community.
HCSO Teammate of the Week: Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office proudly recognize Sergeant Travon Graves
A Harris County family recently shared:
“I would like to recognize Sergeant Graves for his prompt action and the compassion he showed toward an inmate. After the inmate’s parents submitted an “Inmate Care” form, Sergeant Graves personally assisted the individual and communicated directly with the family, assuring them that he was working to obtain a Bible. Throughout the interaction, he demonstrated patience, professionalism, and genuine kindness. His efforts did not go unnoticed and are sincerely appreciated.”
Sergeant Graves began his law enforcement career in 2017 at Harris County Precinct 4 and has been a proud member of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office since 2020. In February, he was assigned to District 4 as a Patrol Supervisor. Sergeant Graves exemplifies what it means to lead with both authority and compassion — ensuring that every person in his care is treated with dignity and respect.
Sergeant Graves, thank you for going above and beyond. Your kindness, patience, and dedication to doing the right thing reflect the very best of HCSO. We are proud to have you on this team!
HCSO Teammate of the Week: Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office proudly recognize Sergeant Billy Stephens and Deputy Elias Sandoval.
A Harris County resident recently shared:
“Sergeant Stevens and Deputy Sandoval with the livestock department are honestly top tier. If my horse gets picked up again, I hope it’s by them. 10/10 rating, 5 stars total, will recommend. They were both so nice and helpful, making an already stressful situation so easy. Deputy Sandoval even went the extra mile to help me secure the area so the horse wouldn’t escape again. Honestly, the nicest gesture ever, and it did not leave me to fend for myself. Definitely the best people in law enforcement I have ever met. Forever grateful to both of them.”
Sergeant Billy Stephens has proudly served HCSO since December 1997 — spending 18 of his nearly 29 years with the Mounted Patrol Unit alongside his partner, June Bug, a 20-year-old Buckskin Quarter Horse.
Deputy Elias Sandoval brings 12 years of law enforcement experience to the Mounted Patrol Unit — 10 of those with HCSO — riding alongside his partner, Jesse, a 19-year-old Buckskin Quarter Horse mare and seasoned rodeo veteran.
Sergeant Stephens and Deputy Sandoval, thank you for showing our community what HCSO is truly made of — not just doing the job, but doing it with heart, patience, and genuine care.
Harris County is lucky to have both of you!
Active Attack Drill
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, along with partner agencies, gathered at Barbara Jordan Park in North Harris County for an Active Attack Drill.
When every second counts, preparation saves lives. Our teams reviewed real-world scenarios, refined their response protocols, and enhanced the interagency coordination that keeps Harris County safe every day. A huge thank you to all the participating agencies for showing up and putting in the effort.
This is what it looks like when agencies train, communicate, and work together to protect our community.
You are Invited to Join HCSO
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Career Fair — and you can apply, test, and take the next step toward a meaningful career all in one day.
- May 9, 2026
- HCSO Academy — 2316 Atascocita Rd, Humble, TX 77396
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Walk-ins welcome until 1:30 PM
We are hiring Detention Officers, Communications Officers, and more!
Just show up. Apply. That’s it.
713-877-5250 | HCSOJobs.com
Missing in Southeast Texas Day 2026
Families searching for missing loved ones are not alone.
Join us for Missing in Southeast Texas Day 2026, a free event dedicated to helping families connect, share information, and access critical resources in missing-persons cases.
Saturday, May 2, 2026
10 AM – 3 PM
Children’s Assessment Center 2500 Bolsover St., Houston
Attendees can:
- Enter information into NamUs
- Provide DNA samples
- Connect with support organizations
- Report missing family members
Together, we can help bring missing loved ones home.
For more information: centerforthemissing.org
Walmart BBQ Battle & Block Party
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Walmart BBQ Battle & Block Party, and it was an absolute blast!
Champion pitmasters, incredible food, great music, and most importantly, amazing people. There is nothing quite like getting out into the community, connecting face-to-face, and sharing a great meal.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello to your deputies.