LETTER FROM SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT

May 7, 2025

To: Jesse Dickerman,

Interim Harris County Administrator

1001 Preston Street, Suite 500

Houston, Texas 77002

Cc: County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia

Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones

Re: Certified Peace Officer Pay Dear Interim

Administrator Dickerman:

As Sheriff of Harris County, I am grateful for the significant investments the Office of County Administration has made in public safety at the direction of our Commissioners Court. In recent years, we have seen consistent pay increases for certified peace officers because we all understand the critical role these public servants play in keeping Harris County residents safe.However, despite these investments, we find ourselves today falling farther behind surrounding jurisdictions when it comes to offering competitive pay for our sheriff’s deputies and constables. A year ago, I brought forward a three-year proposal that aimed to reduce the pay gap between Harris County peace officers and those serving in neighboring agencies. My proposal would have increased starting pay for deputies by 7% in 2025 and a total of 14% by 2027. Because pay disparities are even more pronounced among the leadership ranks, I sought an immediate 9%raise for sergeants that would have grown to a total increase of 22% within three years. Lieutenants and captains would have received 9% in 2025 and a total of 21% by 2027. While the final approved budget included pay increases for Harris County deputies, those raises were far less than proposed. In fact, even if my proposal had been adopted, we now see that it would not have been enough to fully address the current disparity. This year, we must do better and finally close the gap. As we approach a new budget cycle, surrounding jurisdictions are approving aggressive pay raises that seriously threaten Harris County’s ability to recruit and retain the best law enforcement talent. While I recognize that our Commissioners Court faces an exceptionally difficult task when it comes to funding our county’s essential services, I respectfully request that approving a peace officer pay scale that demonstrates our shared commitment to public safety be made the top priority in the FY 2026 budgeting process. Our constituents are counting on us to keep Harris County safe. We cannot meet expectations without a fully staffed and highly qualified law enforcement team

Thank you for your commitment to public safety.I look forward to working with you to address this emergency situation