Tragedy struck a Texas sheriff's office following the deaths by suicide of four of their deputies just six weeks apart from each other. Following the heartbreaking news, the director of the Harris County Sheriff's Office's (HCSO) Behavioral Health Division, Thomas McNeese, issued a statement saying that the loss of the Texas deputies was "deeply felt throughout our entire department."
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McNeese shared the statement with PEOPLE on Friday, March 28. The Behavioral Health Divison, as per McNeese, offers different specialized services for HCSO employees. These include crisis intervention training, wellness programs, and peer support initiatives, among other services,
"These tragedies serve as a somber reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being for our staff," McNeese said in the statement. "Recent events underscore the need to continue strengthening and reinforcing our agency's ongoing efforts to support our team's mental health and resilience."
"We believe that consistency, trust, and tailored resources are key in cultivating a culture that truly values the well-being of our law enforcement family," McNeese continued.
Deputy Deaths
Long Nguyen, 58, a former deputy, died by suicide on February 6. On March 13, Deputy Christina Kohler, 37, was found dead. Seven days later, her death was ruled a suicide, too. Only three days after Kohler was found dead, former deputy Maria Vasquez was also found dead. Her death was ruled a suicide. Finally, on March 19, Deputy William Bozeman also died by suicide.
According to KTRK, the HCSO's Behavioral Health Division was established in 2020. The division was created under Ed Gonzalez, who also addressed the deputies' deaths on Facebook. In his most
recent related post, Gonzalez thanked FBI Director Kash Patel for extending his condolences following the four deaths by suicide."We're still in the initial stage of grief and doing our best to hold each other up," Gonzalez wrote. "In times like these, we come together to learn from these tragedies, console one another, and offer help and support. As with other tragedies, such as line-of-duty deaths, injuries, and shootings, suicide impacts us all."
While talking to KTRK, Thomas McNeese referred to the law enforcement profession as one that "takes a toll on people."
"These last few weeks have been difficult for our staff and the sheriff's office as a whole," McNeese said. "This profession, unfortunately, takes a toll on people. And, over time, the longer you're in it, the more of a toll it takes, and it changes people. We can't help but ask the question, is that enough? Do we need to do something different? What else can we do?"
If you or someone you hold dear is struggling with mental health issues or considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Dial 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visit 988lifeline.org.
