Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:
We’re a family at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and our commitment to protecting our workforce, community, and jail never stops — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It pains me to relay that last week, seven teammates
—
six deputies and one civilian clerk
—
tested positive for coronavirus.
We are working with
Harris County Public Health
to identify co-workers, inmates, and members of the public who may have had close contact with the diagnosed employees so they can take necessary precautions, including a quarantine and testing those with symptoms. At this time, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among the jail’s inmate population.
If you are having symptoms indicative of COVID-19, please call 832-927-7575 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to be screened to determine if you need to be tested. From there, you will be given additional instructions. Also, our Human Resources Division created a dedicated line for employees seeking information regarding COVID-19 guidelines and assistance. The hotline number is 346-877-1671 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can also email
covidinfo@sheriff.hctx.net
.
COVID-19 doesn’t only affect people physically; it can also take a toll emotionally. Our Wellness Unit, as well as our Chaplaincy, are available to assist you. Should you or your family have a physical need for hard-to-find-supplies, financial assistance, emotional and or spiritual support, please reach out to us.
- Maintain social distancing as much as possible
- Wash your hands frequently
- Disinfect equipment often
Please click
here
to learn more about how to protect yourself from exposure.
This week, the county’s Stay Home, Work Safe Order was implemented, click
here
to read the full order. Our primary goal is to encourage voluntary compliance, with citations and/or arrests only being pursued in extreme situations that threaten the public health of our residents. If you have any questions, please seek guidance from your supervisor.
Today, we welcomed 21 new teammates into our family. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, our Basic County Corrections Course graduation ceremony was canceled but we did have a private small gathering for our new teammates. Now they are ready to serve our community. We wish all of you the best, we know that you will be surrounded by the best leaders and teammates.
Thank you to all of my teammates for the incredible work you do every day to serve Harris County and adhere to those five core values that make us the best law enforcement agency in the country. God bless you, and may God bless the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
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“It’s definitely trying times for our deputies, and everyone in our community,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. “They come into contact with lots of people and still have to do their jobs.”
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“The number one reporters of child abuse are teachers,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote in a
tweet
. “But kids aren’t seeing them right now. Neighbors and other family members, PLEASE pay close attention.”
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"
Un grupo de 100 oficiales de la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Harris están preparados para atender llamadas relacionadas con salud mental y enlazar a una persona en caso de que requiera asesoría profesional.
"
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Helpful employee information
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If you are having symptoms indicative of COVID-19 — fever, cough, and difficulty breathing — please call 832-927-7575 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to be screened to determine if you need to be tested. From there, you will be given additional instructions.
In addition, Kelsey-Seybold has created a First Responder Hotline designed to expedite medical advice, direction, and access to care about COVID-19 symptoms, respiratory issues, and other related concerns. The number is 713-442-HERO (4376). More information can be found online at
www.Kelsey-Seybold.com
.
We have a dedicated line for employees seeking information regarding COVID19 guidelines and assistance. The hotline number is 346-877-1671 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; they can also email us at
covidinfo@sheriff.hctx.net
.
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Donations being accepted to assist
our
teammates impacted by COVID-19
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HCSO family,
Some have asked about making donations to assist our HCSO Teammates that have been impacted by COVID-19.
Donations can be made at:
If you are in need, please reach out to:
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Webinar first responders, stress management and coronavirus
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How to take care of yourself and your family during this crisis
Coronavirus transformed our lives nearly overnight. Suddenly, we’re bombarded with messages: Stay home, shelter in place, avoid sick people, flatten the curve, not enough ventilators, you may be a carrier for days without symptoms. It’s no wonder people all over the world have a higher collective stress level than any time in modern history.
And if you work in emergency services, you can’t stay home or avoid sick people. The extra layers of worry on top of jobs that are nerve-wracking by design can quickly become overwhelming. During this free webinar, former paramedic, law enforcement trainer and resilience expert Mike Taigman will explain how stress affects first responders and provide strategies you can use to manage during the long haul of this pandemic.
You’ll learn:
How stress during emergencies such as the coronavirus outbreak impacts our bodies at a cellular, psychological and emotional level
Strategies you can start to use instantly to lower your stress and build resilience during the coronavirus crisis
Practical ways public safety leaders can help decrease stress for their personnel on the frontlines of this epidemic
To Register go to:
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HCSO Online training access
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Just a reminder that advanced training classes for TCOLE credit are available from HCSO Online training. This website can be accessed from any internet connection, home or work, just use the link below.
Your login and password for HCSO Online training are your current HCSO Desktop login and password.
Use your TCOLE username and password to log in.
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Training opportunities for employees at home
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These are the available Training Opportunities for employees that have been sent home whose functions cannot be performed remotely. Employees that have self-quarantined due to high-risk conditions can also take these online training to mitigate the number of hours taken from their paid leave or to avoid being docked. The following options are being offered via Harris County Human Resources & Risk Management. Please distribute to your first-line supervisors so they can make these available to all employees. These are also a great resource for employees wanting to complete their mandatory 20 hours of training, not including TCOLE mandated training and are available year long.
Employees without access to a county network computer can now access the attached flyers, catalogs, and all other COVID19 guides and forms on our website at
www.harriscountyso.org
. To access the information, please scroll to the bottom of the page and select COVID-19 Employee Information.
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Appointments need to be made for annual firearms qualifications so that we can limit the shooter numbers to ten (10) for social distancing. All qualification ammunition will be provided by the Firearm Complex staff.
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Webinar: Managing Anxiety - Coronavirus Fears and Concerns
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Class description:
Concerned about COVID-19? Join our webinar to get the facts and learn about what you can do to protect yourself and your family. We’ll also be discussing normal reactions and strategies for coping with anxiety as well as other resources you can turn to for help.
Presented by:
Cigna Health Coach Sam
Cigna Health Coach Brandy
Location:
Webinar-- from your home or your desk!
Date & Time:
Friday, March 27, 2020
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Meeting Information:
Meeting number (access code): 712 314 238
Meeting password: HarrisCounty
Join by phone:
Tap to call in from a mobile device
314-888-1153 United States (Toll)
1-866-205-5379 United States (Toll Free)
Join from a video system or application:
Dial 712314238@cigna.webex.com
You can also dial 713.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Join using Microsoft Lync or Microsoft Skype for Business:
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COVID-19 Precautionary Response and Preventive Measures
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Harris County is closely monitoring all new developments associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and we want to ensure that our employees are educated on the known risk(s) of exposure to the virus and the proper protocol. Your health and the health of your co-workers is of the upmost importance. If you are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or meet any of the potential exposure scenarios, you should contact your immediate supervisor (via telephone), as well as the Public Health Task Force Employee Hotline number at (713)274-3880 or by email
PHTaskForce@eng.hctx.net
to obtain additional information related to self-quarantine procedures, including protocol(s) and verification.
Staff should take preventive actions (washing hands, covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, etc.) to help avoid the spread of respiratory viruses. To assist in this effort, departments are urged to take the following actions:
- Purchase supplies of disinfectant including hand sanitizer and place in common worksite areas (lobbies, conference rooms, kitchens, restrooms, etc.);
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces; and
- Employees with health concerns should contact their healthcare provider or you may refer them to:
Harris Health Ask My Nurse Hotline : 713-634-1110
Thank you.
HCSO Human Resources Division
(346) 286-1644
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What law enforcement personnel need to know about coronavirus
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The outbreak first started in China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other areas, including the United States.
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