Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office family this week mourned the loss of Deputy Mark Edward. Please join me and pray for Deputy Edward’s family, friends and colleagues. Deputy Edward fell ill while off duty in January and died of natural causes on Wednesday. Deputy Edward hired on with the Sheriff’s Office in 2018 and was assigned to patrol in District 5. He will be missed by all, and we are grateful for his service to our community.
As Sheriff, I feel a strong responsibility to always advocate for those who serve this agency at my side. I want everyone to have the best equipment, solid support services, and a salary that not only reflects the hard work you put in every day, but competes with the market so we can retain talent as an agency. On Tuesday, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a new budget that includes a 2 percent pay raise for all employees. The budget also includes additional funds to expedite the replacement of aging vehicles with newer models. While I am grateful for the additional support this budget provides our team, there is no question that we must invest even more in the men and women who keep our county safe. I will never stop advocating to get everyone the best equipment and appropriate compensation for all that you give the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
It was my honor to participate in our annual tradition of relaying Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo proclamations and credentials to the Capitol this week. For 71 years, our Harris County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Patrol deputies have galloped out of Harris County en route to Austin to deliver our proclamations to the Governor, Secretary of State, and Lieutenant Governor. We are officially in rodeo season, be on the lookout for your teammates at NRG!
To all of my teammates, I appreciate your hard work and dedication to protecting and serving the residents and communities of Harris County. God bless all of you, and God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
