Message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez:

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HOUSTON – A big drug bust was achieved through the help of Harris County Sheriff’s Office K9, Trex. Trex helped deputies locate 80,000 to 100,000 pills of ecstasy during an ongoing investigation.

Details on the investigation has not been released. No arrests have been announced at the time of this writing.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Two newborn babies were found dead in Harris County in the last week. In the last six months, at least five other infants have been abandoned across the Houston area.

The disturbing trend prompted law enforcement to urge parents to follow the state's Safe Haven or Baby Moses law. 

The Harris County Sheriff's Office hosted a tour of its jail facilities for the Texas Veterans Commission and Commissioner Kevin Barber, highlighting the success of the "Brothers in Arms" program, which supports incarcerated veterans.

Launched in February 2019, the Brothers in Arms program provides veterans within the Harris County Jail with specialized resources, guidance, and support tailored to their unique needs.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – KPRC 2 is learning more about a missing teenager from Harris County after her father tells us she was found in New York.

Avery Baker, 16, was last seen at her father, Anthony Baker’s home on Thursday, August 15. “I was angry at first, but it turned into fear and panic pretty quickly,” Mr. Baker said

HCSO Teammate of the Week

Harris County Sheriff's Office Teammate of the Week: Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the HCSO highlight exceptional teammates who serve others above and beyond their duties. We regularly receive positive emails, thank you notes, and phone calls from the community.

Understanding the Baby Moses Law

If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed and struggling with the challenges of a newborn child, remember that you are not alone.

The Baby Moses Law in Texas provides a compassionate and safe alternative for parents in crisis to surrender their newborns (up to 60 days old) at designated safe havens without fear of prosecution. These safe havens include hospitals, fire stations, and EMS stations.

This law ensures that infants are left in secure and caring environments where they can receive the protection and care they need. It offers a lifeline for parents who may have no other options.

Support and Resources:

• No questions asked. No fear of prosecution.
• Safe havens include hospitals, fire stations, and EMS stations.
• Need help? Call 1-800-252-5400 or visit the Texas Health and Human Services at hhs.texas.gov.

Help is available, and no one should face these challenges alone. Together, we can ensure the safety and well-being of every child.

Honoring the Legacy of Deputy John H. Coddou

The Harris County Sheriff's Office Violent Crimes Unit Robbery Supervisors and Investigators were deeply honored to join fallen Deputy Investigator John H. Coddou’s wife, Kathleen, and mother, Rose, in accepting a resolution from the Robbery Investigators of Texas (RIOT) in his memory.

This resolution, presented at the annual RIOT conference in Fort Worth, Texas, honors Deputy Coddou’s life and legacy as a great investigator, dedicated public servant, and a true hero to all of us.

Deputy Coddou joined our agency in 2003 and served in many capacities. His commitment to justice and service will continue to inspire and guide us.

Gone but never forgotten.

Veterans Commission Visits Harris County Jail

HCSO Crime Lab Maintains ANAB Accreditation

We are thrilled to announce that, following a comprehensive external audit, the Harris County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit Crime Laboratory has successfully achieved continued accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)!

This prestigious accreditation reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a high-quality lab management system and highlights the expertise and dedication of our skilled teammates.

Thank you to our amazing team for their unwavering commitment to excellence and ensuring the integrity of our forensic investigations. Your efforts are vital in solving crimes and bringing justice to victims and their families.

HCSO Joins National Leaders at 48th NOBLE Conference

Several Harris County Sheriff’s Office members attended the 48th annual National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives - NOBLE Training Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans. This year’s theme was “Stronger Together: Reducing and Preventing Crime through Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations.”

HCSO Teammates presented and moderated educational workshops, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. More than 2,000 law enforcement professionals nationwide participated in the Blessing of the Badge Ceremony, Memorial March, and Host City Reception.



HCSO is proud to be part of such an inspiring and transformative experience, working towards a stronger, more united future in law enforcement.

Visit the Intranet and stay informed.

Happy Trails: HCSO Retirees

To all retirees, we thank you for your years of service to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Congratulations on your retirement, and best of luck on the next chapter in your life.

Join HCSO’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes

HCSO is now offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) classes for all law enforcement members and non-law enforcement HCSO personnel. Held every Friday in the multipurpose room at the Academy’s main building (2316 Atascocita Road), these classes provide an excellent opportunity to learn self-defense techniques while improving fitness and wellness

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Who Can Join? No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to learn. The classes are open to all skill levels and physical abilities, allowing each participant to progress at their own pace.

What to Bring? Dress comfortably in workout attire that allows for full movement. Shorts, sweats, and form-fitting clothes are recommended. Only bare feet or gym socks are allowed on the mat. While training uniforms (BJJ GIs) are optional, they can be purchased upon request.

Why Jiu-Jitsu? Deputy Anthony Bernabeo, who also owns a gym specializing in BJJ, leads these sessions. Recognizing the importance of BJJ in managing force-on-force encounters, he, along with Deputies Anthony Warren and James Paniagua, has incorporated this training into HCSO’s curriculum. All instructors are certified Gracie Survival Tactics Level 1 and Level 2 trainers, bringing a high level of expertise to the program.

These classes aim to improve both self-defense skills and overall physical health, offering a consistent and effective workout. Inspired by similar programs in other law enforcement agencies, the HCSO jiu-jitsu program fosters a supportive community focused on personal growth and wellness.

Join us on Fridays to experience the benefits of BJJ firsthand!

For more information, please contact Deputy Anthony Bernabeo at anthony.bernabeo@sheriff.hctx.net or 713-202-3129

Please take a moment to read this message from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Harris County Sheriff:

Recently, a team of state inspectors spent the better part of a week walking our Harris County Jail hallways, poring over records, and conducting interviews, they ultimately reported that Texas’ largest county jail met all safety standards and issued us a passing grade. The inspectors’ preliminary findings noted vast improvements in medical services, atmosphere, climate, and cleanliness over the last year. This news is certainly worth celebrating and is a powerful testament to our Sheriff’s Office Detention Command and our dedicated teammates who perform their work with pride and a public servant’s heart. To all of you, I say “Bravo! It’s a job well done, and I know you will remain vigilant in the days to come. Thank you!”

And while earning a passing mark from the state is an important achievement, it has never been our ultimate goal when it comes to the jail, or anything we do at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. What matters more than a passing grade is knowing that we are doing everything in our power to make the jail safe and secure for everyone who works within the jail’s walls and the thousands of people in our custody. There is plenty of reason to believe we’ve achieved great strides toward setting a higher standard. For the second year in a row, we are seeing a significant decline in the mortality rate among the people housed in our jail, and use-of-force incidents in the jail are also trending downward.

This progress isn’t a coincidence. It’s the result of hard work and smart investments in our team and our mission. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Commissioners Court for prioritizing safety within our facilities. The Court has approved my requests for pay increases that now have our detention officers earning 33% more per hour than they did in 2017. Base deputy pay, meanwhile, is up 26% over that time period, all of which helps us recruit and retain good employees.

And while I’m grateful for the pay raises, we’ve won for our teammates, we’re still not where we need to be. I continue advocating for pay parity to bring our salaries in line with comparable law enforcement agencies, because no one works harder and smarter than our Harris County Sheriff’s Office teammates.

Another budget priority of mine is to address Harris County’s backlog of pending criminal court cases that are driving jail overcrowding. To that end, I’ve requested $3 million in overtime to tackle those cases.

I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Office of County the Administrator (OCA) for their invaluable research and collaboration. Their efforts have been instrumental in helping us achieve this compliance, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to ensure the success of our facilities.

We understand the immense challenges the team faces every day, and we recognize that it takes a unique and dedicated person to do what you do. Recruitment efforts are intensifying as we make efforts to close the hiring gap and ultimately reduce the strain on our current team. I’m encouraged to see that we’re hiring new people at a faster clip so far this year, and that our retention rate is improving.

Your resilience and commitment to duty do not go unnoticed, and I deeply appreciate every one of you. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. Together, we will keep pushing forward and build a safer, stronger Harris County.

With my deepest appreciation,

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez