HCSO Newsletter #93 – Happy Thanksgiving!
Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:

As we prepare to give thanks with our family on Thanksgiving, I want to start by sharing my deep appreciation for your partnership and contributions to our wonderful community. I admire our community for its strength, compassion, and commitment to supporting one another. We are a community where neighbors lend a helping hand to those in need, do their part to make it a better place, and band together to build a more caring and safer home. The Sheriff’s Office is glad to have you with us every step of the way.

The pandemic has become personal for many. We at the Sheriff’s Office have lost three of our own. It has been a challenging year for our neighbors with profound loss, sacrifices, and uncertainty, but we pulled together despite the hardships.

Thanksgiving is a special holiday when we pause and reflect on our blessings and what matters most. It’s a holiday that has significant meaning for our country and encourages us to wrap ourselves in gratitude for our family, loved ones, opportunities, and growth. 

I also want to thank all of our deputies, volunteer reservists, detention officers, dispatchers, medical personnel, and teammates who serve and protect us every day with empathy and professionalism. Many sacrifice time with their families to ensure you can celebrate safely with yours. I am grateful to those who will be working on Thanksgiving to keep us safe. I hope you will join me in expressing your appreciation to the men and women of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and all first responders. I am inspired by all they do day in and day out and their unwavering dedication to Harris County. 

Let us be thankful for one another and for our great county and state that we are blessed to call home. Take each day as a gift and fill them with positivity and gratitude.  

I wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Meet Patrol Deputy Henix Who Was Inspired To Serve After Hurricane Harvey
Wellness Corner: Holiday Blues
What are the Holiday Blues?
The most common symptom of the holiday blues is recurring feelings of sadness that begin during the holiday season. These feelings are temporary and may vary in intensity and duration. They are often associated with extra stress, unrealistic expectations, or even memories brought on by the holiday season. Holiday blues include:
  • Fatigue
  • Loneliness or isolation
  • A sense of loss
  • Frustration
  • Sadness

People with the holiday blues have trouble enjoying holiday-related activities, such as shopping for decorations and gifts, family meals and traditions, and social events. The difference between the holiday blues and clinical anxiety or depression is that these feelings are temporary.

Tips for Avoiding the Holiday Blues:
  • Stick to routines as much as possible.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Take time for yourself, but don’t isolate yourself.
  • Spend time with supportive, caring people.
  • Eat and drink in moderation. Avoid alcohol if you are feeling down.
  • Get exercise, even if it’s only short walks.
  • Make a to-do list and keep things simple.
  • Set reasonable expectations and goals for holiday activities, such as grocery shopping, cooking, and buying gifts.
  • Set a budget for holiday activities. Don’t overextend yourself financially when buying decorations and presents.
  • Listen to music, read, or find other healthy ways to relax. 

Click here to learn more.
HCSO in the News
"There are lessons to be learned from Harris County, where Sheriff Ed Gonzalez began sounding the alarm ahead of most officials in Texas and urged police to be choosier about whom they arrested.

State officials should follow Gonzalez’s lead and work to thin the prison population and double-down on other safety measures. They can start with the safest choices."
"The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has started a new unit, the traffic crime unit, headed up by Sgt. Ana Ortiz, a 16-year veteran.

For three years running, street racing calls for service have gone up in every HCSO district every year. Ortiz says many of the same folks flying down the street also take part in parking lot meetups. They’re coordinated through closed social media groups and messaging."
"Officers will be utilizing decoy packages to help track down thieves.

The department encourages residents to take steps to avoid packages being stolen, such as signing up for tracking notifications, retrieving parcels as soon as they are delivered, or requiring signatures for delivery."
"CW39 Houston’s Maggie Flecknoe is with Sgt. DaShana Cheek-McNeal in the Vehicular Crimes Division of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. 

Sgt. Cheek-McNeal shares tips on pedestrian safety, including walking on sidewalks, using crosswalks, making eye contact with drivers, wearing bright colors, and using a flashlight at night."
HCSO Social Media
Our Community Engagement Division and Community Partners Hosted a Food and Gift Card Giveaway for 300 Families 
Behavioral Health Training Unit Deputy Shubert Sends Welcome Letters and Project Guardian Stickers to Newly Registered Families
Our Crime Reduction Unit Deputies in District 4 Worked a Traffic Crimes Initiative at FM 529 
Miss Last Week's Newsletter?
HCSO Newsletter #92 - Don't Grapple with Theft This...

As we look forward to Thanksgiving next week - and the upcoming holiday season - it's a good time to remind ourselves of the true meaning of the celebrations.

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