Our Sheriff’s Office family is saddened by the heartbreaking loss of our brother and teammate, Deputy Shaun Waters, who fell victim to COVID-19.
On Tuesday, we stood with our extended law enforcement family at the City of Southside Place Police Department to salute a remarkable public servant, husband, and father. The honor cordon and funeral procession were uplifting reminders of our camaraderie and promise to forever be by each other’s side.
Deputy Waters was part of a family of public servants. His wife, Arsolanda, is a sergeant with the City of Southside Place Police Department. She began her law enforcement career at the Sheriff’s Office as a detention officer inside the county jail and later swore the same sacred oath as her husband when she earned her deputy badge.
Deputy Waters joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2010 and served in many capacities throughout our agency, including as a detention officer, a patrol field training officer in west Harris County, and a firearms instructor at our training academy.
Deputy Waters’ profound impact on those who knew him was evident in the many stories and memories shared by his teammates over the past week. He was most remembered for his endless love for helping others.
His greatest passion was teaching and mentoring the next generation of deputies. Whether it was in the field, inside the classroom, or at the firearms range, Deputy Waters was known as a true servant leader. He always made himself available to his teammates.
Firearms Range at Sheriff’s Office Training Academy with Senior Deputy Delaine
When Deputy Delaine, a firearms instructor at our academy, met him several years ago, he jokingly remembered that Deputy Waters wasn’t always a proficient shooter.
“But he kept trying,” Deputy Delaine said. “He had a relentless interest in getting better and took it upon himself to improve. He listened. He worked hard. It’s who he was.”
Deputy Delaine added, “He trained some of the best deputies in our ranks. He wanted them to know every aspect of the job. Whether it was patrol training or firearms tactics, he was known as a pillar of knowledge.”
Deputy Waters at the Firearms Range
Sgt. Robbennolt, our patrol training coordinator, says Deputy Waters was part of a proactive joint effort a few years ago that made our Field Training Program what it is today. It included writing positions for the role of Field Training Administrator, teaching more classes at the academy, and evaluating our patrol tactics and procedures. It was about being more efficient, innovative, and safe.
He talked to his fellow field training officers about ways to better help new deputies who needed to improve in certain areas, such as traffic stops. People cared for him well beyond his work here at the Sheriff’s Office.
He set an example of safe and professional weapons handling and firearms training. And he drove home the responsibility for public safety and personal safety to cadets, laterals, and deputies.
Leadership Development Institute Graduation, 2020
Deputy Waters was also a proud graduate of our agency’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI), a selective leadership program for rising team members that teaches a culture of servant leadership accountability. He embodied LDI’s mission and shared a commitment to learning and growth.
Deputy Waters touched many lives, and his legacy lives on through the countless deputies he guided and mentored to be tomorrow’s leaders. We will keep our sister in blue, Arsolanda, and their two children in our hearts and prayers.