As the Memorial Day weekend begins, join me to honor and pay respect to the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country.
This week, Deputy Thompson, showcased what our third core value truly means — protect our residents with honor and courage. He responded to a weapons disturbance on east Harris County, upon arrival a man on a roof threatened to kill himself and shoot Deputy Thompson. He continued talking to him and eventually persuaded him to do otherwise. Deputy Thompson, thank you for your heroism.
I applaud and thank all of you for dealing with difficult and stressful situations. I also know that many of our colleagues may sometimes need help dealing with the pressures of a stressful law enforcement career. I encourage you to reach out to Dr. Robert Seals, who joined our team earlier this year. Call 346-286-3150 for more information or to make an appointment. Remote visits are now available as well. Remote visits are now available as well. Being able to provide free, confidential care to our teammates is priceless.
Stay vigilant
Getting past this virus is a shared responsibility, and I want to thank all my teammates for doing their part. It's important to stay vigilant and protect yourself from the virus. Keep following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
recommendations
, wear a cloth face-covering, keep at least 6 feet of physical distance when possible, and wash your hands frequently. If you or your family have a physical need for hard-find-supplies, financial assistance, emotional, and or spiritual support, please reach out to us.
Water safety
This holiday weekend ushers in the unofficial beginning of summer, and I want to ensure all my teammates are safe.
Many families will be spending time around swimming pools, please remember to practice proper water safety, as well as social distancing to try to mitigate the virus’ spread. Before heading out read the following safety tips from
Safe Kids Worldwide
, and assist in doing your part to prevent a tragedy.
- Water watcher: This person should be someone who will pay attention to children who are playing in the water.
- Life jackets: Be sure that the life jackets fit properly and are fastened securely.
- Swimming lessons: Although knowing how to swim can’t prevent drowning 100 percent, it is an important skill for both children and adults.
- Learn CPR: Red Cross offers an online CPR certification, for more information please click here.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1-4. Avoid a tragedy by always keeping your eyes on your little ones.
Thank you to everyone for showing up every day and for your continued hard work and dedication to upholding our five core values. I’m proud of you all. God bless you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
|
|
|
|
“Sheriff Ed Gonzalez had been bracing for this grim scenario since he first heard of the strange new illness sweeping the globe — the virus would race through the jail, infecting inmates and workers. Months in, the uncertainties have given way to a grim triage. “It’s a beast — every day we’re fighting this evil disease,” Dr. Laxman Sunder said.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
"The scams are getting more sophisticated, but they’re also preying on current events to grab credit card numbers and personal information, said Keith Houston, a Harris County prosecutor who studies fraud. Where do I report the crime? You can call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office’s Financial Crimes Unit is at 713-967-5770."
|
|
|
|
|
|
"James Cabrera, sargento de la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Harris, dijo que en las últimas dos semanas un niño murió en un accidente de tráfico debido a que su silla no estaba bien asegurada en el auto cuando ocurrió el choque. El uniformado precisó que se debe tener en cuenta la edad y el peso del menor para escoger el asiento correcto."
|
|
|
|
Do you or your family need assistance?
|
|
In keeping with our 5th core value, our Wellness Unit as well as our Chaplaincy are available to assist you. Should you or your family have a physical need for hard-find-supplies, financial assistance, emotional and or spiritual support, please reach out to us.
Lt. Shannon Bowdoin 936-776-6537
Don Savell 832-233-4387
Dr. Robert Seals
|
|
Online Training Available for HCSO Employees
|
|
Harris County Human Resources & Risk Management is working with a new vendor, KnowledgeCity, to meet the current need for online training.
Online training classes will be available to Harris County employees starting, Wednesday, April 1
st
.
Please see the attached course catalog for KnowledgeCity, along with a list detailing the duration of each class.
To get started, please contact your supervisor to request permission. Employees
MUST
be approved by their supervisor to register for the online training courses. Once approval is received, employees can submit an email request to register for online training to
Syrenthia.Bonds@sheriff.hctx.net
(Please CC: supervisor). Thereafter, a link will be sent to for the requesting employee to register for the available training courses online.
***Important***
Employees who are on the following may NOT take the online training courses:
*FMLA
*Using Sick time or Compensation (Comp) time
*Regular Days Off (RDO)
|
|
Mandatory BPOC Diagnostic Physical Fitness Test
|
|
With the new changes to the entrance into the BPOC, the academy staff will be conducting Physical Agility Testing at the front entrance into The Harris County Sheriff's Academy, 2316 Atascocita Road, Humble Texas 77396. We are limiting the testing to a maximum of 10 candidates during a single session. In order for your application to be processed by Human Resources you must successfully pass the Physical Agility Test.
The PAT consist of the following:
- Radio manipulation (articulating your first/last name and your date of birth via a radio mic while turning a steering wheel)
- Weapon manipulation (Pistol & Shotgun) (pressing the trigger 5 times in 10 seconds)
- Push-ups (20 in one (1) minute)
- Sit-ups (45 in two (2) minutes)
- 1.5 mile run (15 minutes and 30 seconds or less)
If, you fail any portion of the test, you will
not
continue forward for that session. The academy staff will allow you some time to go home and practice. An additional test will be set up on a later date.
You are allowed a maximum of three (3) attempts to pass the physical agility test. You must contact Sergeant Williams through email at charlotte.williams@sheriff.hctx.net or Deputy Sled at daniel.sled@
sheriff.hctx.net
to schedule a Physical Agility Test. Only the candidates who are scheduled will be allowed to participate in the test. Once you are scheduled for a PAT, it is imperative to attend on your assigned test date and time since the test is limited to 10 candidates.
If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact Sergeant Williams (713) 274-4923 or Deputy Sled (713) 274-4913. Upon arrival for the PAT, your identification will be checked at the front entrance of the academy building. The testing will start promptly start at 9:30 am or 1pm hours. Please wait at the front entrance and be prepared to be screened prior to testing.
You should be dressed in appropriate fitness attire; no sheer garments, ensure your fitness garment covers your torso and extends to the thighs.
Please bring your face covering, gloves and water for hydration
.
Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, you will not be allowed into the academy building for any reason.
GOOD LUCK
!!
|
|
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Seminars
|
|
As an employee or retiree you have access to a valuable Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by Cigna at no additional cost. EAP personal advocates will work with you and your household family members to help you resolve issues you may be facing, connect you with the right mental health professionals, direct you to a variety of helpful resources in your community and more. The EAP offers access to face-to-face counselors in your area, as well as Cigna EAP phone consultants to help process life stresses and improve well-being.
The EAP benefit is… A household benefit. Confidential. Prepaid by employer (No cost to you). Available 24/7/365.
- Stress management
- Family or parenting issues
- Substance abuse/misuse
- Work/life balance
- Burnout
- Marital/relationship problems
- Child and elder care
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger management
- Legal concerns
- Financial issues
- Coping with change
- Self-esteem
The focus of this program includes:
- Work/life balance
- Improved lifestyle
- Better physical and mental health
- Total well-being
To explore your EAP benefits, please see the contact information below:
ALL INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN CIGNA (EAP) AND EMPLOYEE
For additional information, please contact
:
Ronisha Mathis, HCSO Human Resources
|
|
Miss Last Week's Newsletter?
|
|
HCSO Newsletter #65 - We will always remember Sgt....
"Sheriff Ed Gonzalez thanked Scholwinski's family for his long years of service to the department, and the sacrifice the job had required of them. "Our hearts are heavy because we've lost a teammate and a friend," Gonzalez said.
Read more
myemail.constantcontact.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
