HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Tensions are mounting inside the Harris County Sheriff’s Workplace, as deputies voice frustration over salaries they are saying fall far wanting what they deserve and what different companies, particularly the Houston Police Division, are getting.
Following Mayor John Whitmire’s high-profile announcement of considerable pay raises for Houston cops final week, frustration amongst Harris County deputies has spilled into social media. AI-generated photographs mocking Sheriff Gonzalez, that includes variations of the sheriff, the mayor, the police chief, and even members of his command employees, have been extensively circulated amongst regulation enforcement officers.
At the moment, the beginning wage for a Harris County deputy is roughly $57,000, Jose Lopez of the Harris County Deputies’ Group mentioned. In keeping with the Houston Police Division web site, beginning wage for an HPD officer is round $64,000, however underneath the mayor’s proposal, if authorized, that determine might leap to $81,000 by July 2025. That might create a $24,000 hole between first-year officers in Houston and Harris County. The disparity is anticipated to worsen over the following 5 years, as Houston police would proceed receiving annual pay raises underneath the plan.
Lopez, who’s the president of the deputies’ group, is sounding the alarm. If the division can’t be aggressive, he fears they may lose deputies in droves.
“It is already very arduous to retain what we’ve. We’re not even speaking about attempting to recruit,” Lopez mentioned. “That is completely an emergency.”
In a memo despatched to the division Wednesday, Gonzalez sought to reassure deputies, emphasizing that he’s combating on their behalf. He formally known as on county commissioners to “absolutely deal with the present disparity.”
This is not the primary time Gonzalez has raised the problem. Two years in the past, he requested related changes, although solely a portion of that request was granted.
The sheriff was not out there for an interview Wednesday, in line with his chief of employees.
“If it was as much as him, we’d have gotten raises 4 or 5 years in the past, and possibly we would not be in as unhealthy a form we’re in,” Lopez mentioned. He added that the AI-generated criticism of Gonzalez is unfair as a result of he and the deputies share the identical objectives, which is best pay.
Lopez mentioned he had a lodge stuffed with dissatisfied deputies earlier this week and pressured that the time to behave is now, as commissioners start crafting the county’s 2026 finances.
“They’re uninterested in guarantees. They need to see motion. They need to see motion now.”
ABC13 contacted the workplaces of all of the county commissioners and Harris County Decide Lina Hidalgo. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis had no remark. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey was not out there however will remark at Commissioner’s Court docket Thursday, a spokesperson mentioned. Hidalgo’s workplace didn’t reply.
Assertion from Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia:
“After I was Sheriff I labored to make the Harris County Deputy Sheriff’s salaries aggressive within the State of Texas, and I’m pleased with the a number of raises and incentives which have been given to our deputies throughout my time as Commissioner. Whereas I acknowledge that we will be unable to match HPD’s proposed will increase, I’ll struggle to make us aggressive. I began my regulation enforcement profession throughout Houston’s oil bust, I can’t make the identical mistake that was made within the late 70’s when the Metropolis of Houston skilled a big murder fee. Whereas we are going to face tough budgeting selections, public security might be my precedence.”
Assertion from Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones:
“Public security is my high precedence. I deeply respect the service of our Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies and the sacrifices they make to maintain us protected. As we start engaged on the 2026 Harris County finances, I’m dedicated to maximizing funding to regulation enforcement, whereas making certain fiscal accountability and transparency.”
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