The Harris County Sheriff's Office is a diverse and inclusive agency that reflects the diverse community that we serve. Being an inclusive agency means we celebrate June as Pride Month. And we celebrate the fact that many LGBTQ members of our agency serve openly and with absolute pride.
Since I’ve been Sheriff, every year HCSO has been in attendance and participated in the Houston Pride Parade, just like we march in parades that celebrate so many other aspects of our great community. Unfortunately, given the impact of this pandemic, Houston’s 2020 Pride parade was postponed to the fall.
Prepare for a hurricane
June also marks the beginning of Hurricane Season, which ends in November. You can’t stop a hurricane, but you can prepare now to protect you and your loved ones. Don't wait until a warning is issued and the stores are empty or closed. Prepare an emergency plan and make sure every member of your family knows what to do.
Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:
- Get emergency supplies: Have enough supplies for your household, including medication, disinfectant supplies, cloth face coverings, pet supplies in your go-bag, or car trunk.
- Make a plan: Create a family disaster plan.
- Avoid flooded areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
- Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
- Protect older adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
- Protect your pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
- Stay safe after a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries, make sure your food and water are safe, and clean up mold safely.
- Review Important Documents: Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents like ID are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space.
- Strengthen your Home: Declutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture, consider hurricane shutters.
- Stay informed: with your local weather authority.
The City of Humble proclaimed May 28, 2020, as "Raymond Scholwinski Day." Thank you for honoring our friend and teammate. Please continue to pray for his family and loved ones. Your brothers and sisters in blue have the watch from here.
Stay alert
The battle against the pandemic continues and protective measures remain just as vital today to control the spread as they were at the outset of this pandemic. Getting past this virus is a shared responsibility. Practice social distancing whenever you can, wash your hands, cover your face with a mask, and help us flatten the curve. If you want to get tested click
here
or call 832-927-7575.
Please remember if you need help or advice dealing with the pandemic, reach out to our Wellness Unit or our Chaplaincy, they are available to assist you and your family with any supplies, financial assistance, and emotional or spiritual support. Remember you are not alone, we are a family and we are here for you. See the Important Items section to learn more about the resources available for you.
As always, I appreciate all the hard work that everyone puts forth every day. I’m proud to be Sheriff and stand with all of you to make this agency one of the best law enforcement agencies in the country. I’m optimistic this month will bring new opportunities for all of us. God bless you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
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Deputy Jessica Sustaita joined HCSO as a detention officer and graduated from the Basic Peace Officer Course in October.
Click h
ere
to watch a video of when Deputy Sustaita went on her first patrol.
Click
here
to watch a video of Deputy Sustaita when she was still in probationary patrol training, during the pandemic.
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“He did what he could to keep people out of trouble and keep them from showing up in his courtroom again,” said his daughter, Dlisa Nuñez. “Even though he was just the bailiff, he would tell them, ‘Hey man, you don’t want to come back here. You don’t want to be spending time here.’" She said her father carried an empathetic demeanor with him through 34 years at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office."
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“Our arrest and detention policies regarding those charged with domestic violence haven’t changed during the pandemic,” countered Jason Spencer, a spokesman for the Harris County, Texas Sheriff’s Department.”
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“Believing their 26-year-old granddaughter was hurt and in legal trouble, they said they let their emotions get the best of them, without asking the right questions, which is something the criminals were counting on.”
If you believe that you've become victim to a scam or if you have any questions please call 713-221-6000.
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Do you or your family need assistance?
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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
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Donations being received for D.O. Jamie Bauer after a house fire
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On Thursday, May 21st, D.O. Jamie Bauer's apartment was destroyed by fire.
We are assisting in relocating Jamie and her family.
Thank you for your continued support of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Benevolence Association.
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Honoring the 2020 graduates
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With graduation events canceled around the county due to the pandemic, we want to recognize the 2020 graduates. Help us celebrate and honor their achievements! If you and/or your children are about to graduate let us know to give you guys a shoutout. Please send photos and a brief description to
giselle.bueno@sheriff.hctx.net
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Harris County Wellness: Online Fitness Classes
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Harris County Wellness Unit is now offering online Wellness and Fitness training due to precautions of the COVID-19. Employees that participate in these classes will be able to receive 10-points per class towards their 2021-22 Healthy Actions Medical Plan. Employees must complete the online training and complete the corresponding SurveyMonkey to receive credit for these classes. Only selected classes posted on the wellathctx.com website for online fitness training and wellness training will receive credit for HAMP (Healthy Actions Medical Plan). These lists will be updated regularly to provide a variety of topics.
Click
here
For the list of classes and information on the Wellness Training.
Click
here
for the list of classes and information on the Fitness Training.
For questions please click
here
.
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Online Training Available for HCSO Employees
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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)
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Mandatory BPOC Diagnostic Physical Fitness Test
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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
!!
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Seminars
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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
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Miss Last Week's Newsletter?
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HCSO Newsletter #66 - We remember and honor the brave
"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 ...
Read more
myemail.constantcontact.com
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