John Moore: 1837 - 1841 Sheriff Moore John Moore was installed in as the 1st Sheriff of Harris County on Feb. 27, 1837. He was re-elected sheriff on Feb. 04, 1838 and continued in office until 1841.
John Moore

John Moore was sworn in as the 1st Sheriff of Harris County on Feb. 27, 1837. Back then, Harris County was called Harrisburg County in the Republic of Texas. At that time, the Sheriff's Office consisted of the sheriff, his horse and a jail built out of logs.
  • First Sheriff of Harris County, Texas
  • Member of the Consultation at San Felipe in 1835
  • Signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836
  • Married to Eliza Belnap, February 2, 1839
  • City Alderman in Houston, 1840
  • Died in Houston, 1846
Mangus T. Rodgers: 1841 Sheriff Rodgers Mangus T. Rodgers was sworn in as the 2nd Sheriff of Harris County in July of 1841. However, he does not appear as being elected until Feb. 6, 1843. He was sheriff until March, 1844.
Mangus T. Rodgers

Mangus T. Rodgers was sworn in as the 2nd Sheriff of Harris County in 1841.

There is no mention of when Magnus Rodgers arrived in Texas. As Sheriff of Harris County, Magnus Rodgers was responsible for collecting taxes for the Secretary of the Treasury of the Republic of Texas. Such taxes were necessary to pay the salaries of the elected officials of the fledgling new republic. Magnus Rodgers served until March of 1844 when he resigned from office.
John Fitzgerald: 1844 Sheriff Fitzgerald John Fitzgerald was sworn in as the 3rd Sheriff of Harris County in April 27th, 1844. He was sheriff until July 13, 1846.
John Fitzgerald

John Fitzgerald was born in Ireland. He arrived in Texas in March of 1822. He came to Texas as a single man. Not much known about him until he was elected Harris County Coroner on Feb. 1837 and served in that position until Sept. of 1840. By the time John Fitzgerald became sheriff, many in Texas were looking toward annexation by the United States.
  • Harris County Coroner: Feb. 1837- 1840
  • Justice of the Peace: 1839 - 1843
  • Harris County Commissioner: 1842
  • City Secretary: 1843 - 1847
  • Elected Sheriff of Harris County Feb., 27, 1844
  • Served as Sheriff until July 13, 1846
David Russell: 1846 Sheriff Russell David Russell was sworn in as the 4th Sheriff of Harris County in 1846. He took office shortly after Texas became the 28th state of the United States. Mr. Russell was re-elected on Aug. 7, 1848.
David Russell

David Russell arrived in Texas un June of 1836 as Class II citizen. According to the Citizens of Texas Land Grant (Vol 1 - 1840), David Russell was granted 1/3 league of land (369 acres) in Galveseton County on Dec. 20, 1839.

He took office shortly after Texas became the 28th state of the United States. Mexico went to war with the United States over the anexation of Texas.

He served as Sheriff from July 13, 1846, re-elected August 7th, 1848 and resigned from office in February of 1850.
Thomas M. Hogan: 1850 - 1853 Sheriff Hogan James B. Hogan was elected as the 5th Sheriff of Harris County in August 5th, 1850 and served thorugh 1853. He was elected City Recorder in 1864 and died in office on Feb. 15, 1864.
James Butler Hogan Jr.

James Butler Hogan Jr. was born in Morroe County, Georgia on Oct. 19, 1807. James and his brother Thomas came to Texas in 1836. Both fought in the battle of San Jacinto and probably met and became friends with Sam Houston. James Hogan moved to Houston in 1839. He was listed in the U.S. Census as a blacksmith by trade in 1846. James and his wife Martha established the Hogan Hotel on Market Street Square in Houston.
  • Justice of the Peace: 1840
  • City Alderman: Feb. 18, 1846
  • Harris County Sheriff: Aug 5, 1850 - 1853
  • City Marshall: 1853 - 1854
  • Market Master: 1853 - 1854
  • City Alderman: 1856 - 1857
Thomas M. Hogan: 1850 - 1856 Sheriff Hogan Thomas M. Hogan was appointed as the 6th Sheriff of Harris County in 1853. He was sheriff from 1853 through 1856 .
Thomas M. Hogan

Thomas M. Hogan was born in South Carolina in 1810 and came to Texas with his brothe James Butler Hogan in 1836. Thomas M. Hogan moved to Houston in 1839. Shortly after becoming sheriff, Thomas M. Hogan travelled to Louisiana and captured a man who had robbed and killed another man. Thomas M. Hogan is buried in a cemetery in Galveston, Texas.
Houston House, 1850
Houston House, 1850
Harris County Jail, 1860
Harris County Jail, 1860
John R. Grymes: 1856 - 1858 Sheriff Grymes John R. Grymes was elected the 7th Sheriff of Harris County in 1856. It seems that Sheriff Grymes had the usual workload for a Sheriff, with a couple of additional duties.
John R. Grymes

On Nov. 24, 1856, the County Court, "Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Sheriff hereafter to prevent all persons from firing a cannon in the Courthouse Square." Sheriff Grymes aslso presided over the opening of a new county jail. The "Weekly Telegraph" newspaper in Houston edition of Wednesday, April 14, 1858 mentioned that R.P. Boyce and George W. Frazier as as candidates for the office of Sheriff, along with John R. Grymes. Grymes was re-elected as Sheriff but gave up his Sheriff's job in 1858 to become County Commissioner of Precinct 3.
George W. Frazier: 1858 - 1861 Sheriff Frazier George W. Frazier was elected the 8th Sheriff of Harris County in 1858. Houston and Harris County were losing some of its idylic conditions and the peaceful easy existence it had enjoyed in the previous few years. The threat of secession and looming war accounted for the growing gloom.
George W. Frazier - expand with div tag

George W. Frazier was born on June 28, 1825 in Tennessee, came to the Republic of Texas and was listed as a resident of Fort Bend County, Richmond Post Office Precint.When George Frazier took office in 1858 as the 8th Sheriff, Houston and Harris County were losing some of its idyllic conditions and the peaceful existence of the previous few years. On April 12, 1861, the American Civil War began. By 1862, 12% of the population of Harris County was as bare as ever. Sheriff Frazier served on the Houston City Council, 2nd Ward 1862 - 1865. Frazier resigned from office as Sheriff and became the Provost Marshal (a military title) for Harris County prior to the start of the American Civil War. Frazier died on August 10, 1869 and is buried Glenwood cemetery. The records reveal the following regarding sheriffs during that time period (April, 1861 through Sept. 1873). Texas resigned from the Union in February of 1861. The Harris County Police Court (1858 - 1874) reports that the office of Sheriff changed five times from 1858 - 1874. When the Houston-based Harris County Sheriff's Office began to develop a timeline of past sheriffs, several variations in accurary were noted.
B.P. Sheriff Lanham Berryman P. "B.P." Lanham was appointed Sheriff in 1861 after Sheriff Frazier resigned from office. Lanham was elected the 9th Sheriff of the Harris County in 1862, when he received 807 votes. Sheriff Lanham resigned from office in September, 1865.
B.P. Lanham

B.P. Lanham was appointed deputy sheriff when John R. Proudfoot was elected City Marshal. Lanham was appointed sheriff in 1861 after Sheriff Frazier resigned from office to become Provost Marshal.

On March 17, 1862, Lanham enlisted in the Confederate Army as a First Lieutenant in Company "K" of th 26th Texas Cavalry Regimen. He mustered out of the Confederate Army in Houston on May 26, 1865.

Lanham was elected the 9th Sheriff of the Harris County in 1862, when he received 807 votes. He took over as Sheriff during the worst times. The county was split by the Civil War and all able-bodied men had gone off to fight for the Confederacy. Federal troops had arrived at Galveston by the time Sheriff Lanham had left office in September of 1865. Lanham continued to live in Houston after leaving office as Sheriff.
Irvin Capers Lord: 1865 - 1866 Sheriff Lord Irvin Capers Lord. Appointed the 10th Sheriff of Harris County on Sept, 1865 after Sheriff Lanham resigned from office. Sheriff Lord served as Sheriff until June of 1866 when the general elections were held at the close of the Civil War.
Irvin Capers Lord

Irvin Capers "I.C." Lord was born in 1827 in South Carolina. He came to Houston with his family in 1854. A machinist by trade, Lord became active in city/county government and served in the following capacities:
  • City Alderman/1st Ward: 1858- 1863
  • Elected City Marshal: 1863 - 1865
  • Harris County Commissioner: 1842
  • Appointed Sheriff of Harris County Sept., 1865
  • Board of Health City of Houston: 1867 - 1868
  • City Finance Committee: 1870 - 1871
  • City Alderman/5th Ward: 1874- 1879
  • Mayor: 1875- 1876
  • City Street Commissioner: 1889 - 1890
Irvin Capers Lord
John Proudfoot: 1866 Sheriff Proudfoot John R. Proudfoot. Elected the 11th Sheriff of Harris County on June 25, 1866 and served in office until Sept. 1867. Proudfoot enlisted in the Confederate Army, was assigned to various posts and eventually became a prisoner of war.
John Proudfoot

John Roberson Proudfoot was a duly elected Sheriff of Harris County, Texas on June 25, 1866. Research into his past revealed that Sheriff Proudfoot served the citizens of Harris County for seventeen months.

John Roberson Proudfoot was born in or around 1832 in the city of Darien, Georgia (McIntosh County). He was one of ten children born to Hugh Winwood Proudfoot and Ephemia Thomas Roberson. In early 1861, Proudfoot enlisted in the Texas Rangers, Rio Grande Military Ditrict, Texas State Troops (TST). He enlisted with the rank of Captain, serving with the Texas Rangers in an effort to " prevent the frontier of depreciation by hostile forces - regardless of origin." Proudfoot returned to active life in Houston, Texas (1865). The 1866 "Houston City Directory."

The "Weekly Telegraph" newspaper, Sunday, May 6, 1866 edition reported Proudfoot's announcement to run for Sheriff. Proudfoot was elected Sheriff June 25, 1866.
A.B. Hall: 1866 - 1873 Sheriff Hall Asher B. Hall was appointed the 12th Sheriff of Harris County. Sheriff Hall was removed from office three times, however each time he was appointed to his post by the Union Army administrators.
A.B. Hall

Asher Barton ("A.B.") Hall was born on December 10, 1831 in Centerville, Hunderton County, New Jersey. He had three brothers and five sisters. "A.B." enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 in the 4th Cavalry Regiment Illinois, which was an escort detachment under Ulysis S. Grant. "A.B." continued his service time with the 4th Cavalry Regiment until it was consolidated with the 12th Cavalry Regiment Illinois where they marched into Hempstead, Texas. He ended his military career with the Union Army on May 6, 1866 in Houston, Texas. The "Houston Weekly Telegraph" newspaper, September 5, 1867 makes its first reference to Asher B. Hall as having been appointed the 12th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas. Sheriff was re-elected as Harris County Sheriff in 1873.
He also served as Tax Assessor / Collector for Harris County, Texas. Sheriff Hall was removed from office three times, however each time he was appointed to his post by the Union Army administrators. His last removal from office as Sheriff / Tax Collector was by court order for his misappropriations of county and school taxes. In 1874, Ulysses S. Grant appointed "A.B." as Postmaster for Galveston and was later removed for tax problems.
Sam S. Ashe: 1873 - 1875 Sheriff Ashe Samuel S. Ashe was born in 1838 in Tennessee. In 1870, Ashe was elected Harris County Commissioner of Precinct 3 and Justice of the Peace of the Lynchburg Post Office District. In 1873, he became the 13th Sheriff of Harris County.
Sam S. Ashe

During Ashe's tenure, the office of Sheriff was still a physically dangerous one and his wife told of his being shot at one morning "three times before breakfast, on an empty stomach". On many evenings, Mrs. Ashe made her husband a pallet on the floor so that he could sleep out of range of the window to prevent known emenies from trying to kill him.

After his term in office had expired, Ashe became Tax Collector in 1874 for a term of four years. This was the first time the offices of Sheriff and Tax Collector were separated since the beginning of the country.

On March 23, 1876 Ashe was presented with a handsome new service of silver plate as as reward for the prudence, self-possession and bravery he had manifested when a mob had beaten and threatened him after he had imprisoned a black man during the last election.
Cornelius M. Noble: 1876 - 1883 Sheriff Noble Cornelius M. Noble was born in 1847 and he became the duly elected 14th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas on April 18, 1876. Sheriff Noble must have played a subdued role as little has been written about his term as Sheriff. Noble died on January 24, 1886.
Cornelius M. Noble

Cornelius M. Noble must have played a subdued role as little has been written about his term as Sheriff. Items of interest in the early 1880's written in the "The Houston Sun and Daily Post" include:
  • The opium den at the corner of Congress and Caroline Streets is evidently doing a thriving business
  • By order of Commissioner's Court, C. Anson, County Judge presiding, the new law by which county prisoners cannot be hired out of the county in which they reside and tried and keeps the Harris County Jail better filled than before.
John J. Fant: 1884 - 1886 Sheriff Fant John J. Fant was elected the 15th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas in 1884. His name first appeared in the Houston City Directory dated 1877 - 1883 working under Sheriff Cornelius Noble.
John J. Fant

John J. Fant lived at the corner of 3rd Street and Charles Street in Houston, Texas. Fant served as deputy sheriff for Harris County between 1877 through 1883.

He was also a partner with Charles E. Ashe of Fant & Ashe Company, who were lumber dealers from 1887 to 1901. Fant was also the manager of the Houston Commission and Auction House located at 700 Congress Avenue in 1902 - 1903. He was also the owner of the John J. Fant & Company, whch was a real estate investment and loan agent located in the Wilson building located at 915 1/2 Congress Street from 1903 - 1917. One item of interest about Fant was that the inmates of the Harris County Jail organized a Kangaroo Court with the following rules:
  • Every prisoner kept his jail cell clean
  • Do not spit on the floor
  • No shouting to persons passing the jail
  • All subject to fine of not less than 50 cents
George W. Ellis: 1887 - 1894 Sheriff Ellis George W. Ellis became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the office of Sheriff and was elected the 16th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas. During eight years as Sheriff he gained much experience in dealing with criminals.
George W. Ellis

George W. Ellis is listed in the United States Census (1910) as being born in Mississippi in 1845. He became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the office of Sheriff and was elected the 16th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas. Ellis had a boat-chase arrest to his credit. Learning that a postal employee accused of robbing the mails had fled toward Galveston on a sailboat, Ellis rode on horseback to Lynchburg, chartered a tug, overtook and nabbed the suspect.

Horse thieves were the public enemies in Houston at the turn of the century and officers were kept busy by breaking up fights in saloons. The officers worked in pairs to keep from being mobbed in the numerous saloon fights.

In March of 1892, there was a moment of nostalgia for Ellis, a former Confederate soldier when the "Houston Daily Post" reported: "Buffalo Bayou is so low at the foot of Milam Street, the bottom of the stream is visible. Boys were engaged in fishing out old sabers, cannon balls, muskets, guns and ammunition thrown in the bayou after the war.
Albert Erichson: 1894 - 1898 Sheriff Erichson Albert Erichson. Elected as the 17th Sheriff of Harris County in 1894. Monday, April 25, 1898 the "Houston Daily Post" newspaper reported the untimely death of Sheriff Albert Erichson. He was replaced by Archie R. Anderson.
Albert Erichson

Albert Erichson was born in Houston on March 17. 1855. He was the youngest of four sons. His father was gun and locksmith. Erichson became a deputy sheriff under Harris County Sheriff George W. Ellis. In 1884, Erichson received the democratic nomination for sheriff of Harris County and was electd the17th sheriff of Harris County by one of the largest majorities given to a candidate on the democratic ticket.

Sunday, April 24, 1898 Erichson committed suicide in his office by a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. The minutes of the Harris County Commissioner's Court dated April 25, 1898 show that Archie Anderson was duly elected to serve as Sherifff of Harris County for the unexpired term of Sheriff Erichson, ending with the General Election in November of 1898.

Mr. William M. Baugh was one of the signers of a proclamation to the Harris County Commissioner's Court nominating the name of Archie Anderson for the position of Sheriff of Harris County, Texas on April 25, 1898.
W.M. Baugh: 1897 - 1898 Sheriff Baugh William M. Baugh. William M. Baugh was never elected Sheriff of Harris county, however he was the chief deputy until Sheriff Erichson. He was never employed or appointed as a deputy Sheriff for Harris County, Texas.
W.M. Baugh

W.M. Baugh was born in Mississippi in 1854. His name first appears in the 1879 - 1880 Houston City Directory as being involved in the business community in various job categories. Baugh worked as a clerk at Wilson & Harvey Company. Baugh also worked for T.W. House Bank from 1882 to 1895 beginning as a clerk and working his way up to head bookkeeper.

Baugh was an insurance agent in 1895 - 1896 during the time Albert Erichson was Sheriff of Harris County. Baugh maintained a business background in Houston in 1879 - 1880. He was never employed or appointee as a deputy Sheriff for Harris County, Texas. It was not until the 1897 - 1898 Houston City Directory mentions William M. Baugh as Chief Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Albert Erichson. After the untimely death of Sheriff Erichson on April 24, 1898, Chief Deputy William Baugh may have mainitained watch over the operations of the Sheriff's office for about three days until the Harris County Commissioner's Court appointed Archie R. Anderson as interim Sheriff.
Archie R. Anderson: 1899 - 1912 Sheriff Anderson Archie Anderson was appointed sheriff to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Erichson on April 26, 1898 and thus became the 18th Sheriff of Harris County. He had previously served as Deputy Sheriff. Anderson was re-electd Sheriff of Harris County in the general elections in November, 1898.
Archie Anderson

Archie R. Anderson was appointed to serve the unexpired term of Sheriff Albert Erichson. Anderson was re-electd Sheriff of Harris County in the general elections in November, 1898 and served for 15 years.

At the time of his election, gambling was everywhere. Cattle and horse thieves were abundant, as were the cowboys who insisted in shooting up the town. The most important news during Sheriff Anderson's tenure was that ' Howard Hughe's oil well in Humble had struck oil, producing 5,000 - 8,000 barrels a day.

Speculators, gamblers and just plain riff-raff poured into Harris County. The lawmakers of the time were concerned about the welfare of their "ladies". Therefore, late in 1905 several new laws were enacted: one prohibiting the making of "goo-goo" eyes or flirting, and it became a misdemeanor for one or more persons to stand on the street together or sit idly or aimlessly. Anderson retired in 1912 and was remembered as a remarkably fair man in dealing with prisoners.
Marion F. Hammond: 1913 - 1918 Sheriff Hammond Marion F. Hammond became the 19th Sheriff of Harris County in 1913. During his term in office, the First World War was being fought. The Sherif had his hands full during many troublesome men who did not want to serve in the Army.
Marion F. Hammond

The United States Federal Census (1910) first Marion Frank Hammond as being born in Texas in July of 1872, married to his wife Ida P. Hammond; one son and two daughters. He and his family lived in the 5th Ward of Houston. Hammond became the 19th Sheriff of Harris County in 1913.

During Sheriff Hammond's term in office, the Camp Logan riot was probably the worst time for Houston and Harris County lawmen. Objecting to the conditions that existed in the camp, six hundred heavily-armed soldiers broke the camp and marched down Houston's Washington Avenue shooting anyone that got in their way. All law enforcement officers rushed to the scene where six policemen were wounded; five of them died of their wounds. Sheriff Hammond summoned a posse of citizens to help, peace was restored and the soldiers returned to the camp. Many were executed as a result of that disastrous action, others sentenced to prison. Memorial Park is now on the site of what was a part of Camp Logan.
Thomas A. Binford: 1919 - 1936 Sheriff Binford Thomas A. Binford was born in Texas in 1872 and after serving as a Houston Police Officer and being wounded in the Camp Logan riot, was elected as the 20th Sheriff of Harris County in 1918. Once elected, Sheriff Binford moved his wife and children into the new County Jail Building.
Thomas A. Binford

Thomas Abner Binford is listed in the United States Federal Census (1930) as being born in Texas in 1872. As Sheriff, he moved his family into the newly-constructed County Jail building. Even with living quarters provided, being Sheriff was tough back then, as the Sheriff was paid from fees earned. Not only that, he had to pay his staff from these same fees.

Sheriff Binford, also affectionally called "Uncle T" had a well-deserved reputation for stubborn and single-minded pursuit of justice. One time after a bank robbery, the robbers left a trail of silver dollars as they made their escape. Sheriff Binford followed the trail until he found the outlaws. During the ensuing shootout, Sheriff Binford shot, wounded and captured the outlaws and recovered all of the money.

When he retired in 1937, Sheriff Binford said that the times were changing too much and he did not like the way the Sheriff had to work anymore. In 1972, Sheriff Binford died at the age of 91 and is buried in Houston at the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Norfleet Hill: 1937 - 1942 Sheriff Hill Norfleet Hill was elected the 21st Sheriff of Harris County in 1937 when Thomas Binford retired. Sheriff Hill had been a Houston Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff and District Attorney's Investivator for over twenty five years before being elected Sheriff.
Norfleet Hill

Norfleet Hill had served as a Houston Police Officer, District Attorney's Investigator and Sheriff. Combined with his years as Sheriff, Hill had served the citizens of Houston and Harris County for over thirty years.

On Thursday, January 29, 1942 (Houston Post newspaper) in one brief event, all those faithful years of of law enforcement service were shattered when Sheriff Norfleet Hill gunned down Constable Charlie Graham in a personal feud then killed himself.

After the investigation was complete, it was determined that Constable Graham had made fun of Sheriff Hill's one thousand reserve deputies during a Commissioner's Court meeting. Realizing how mad the remark made Sheriff Hill, Constable Graham attempted to apologize, only to have Hill pull a gun. Graham quickly retreated, but later went to find the Sheriff, accompanied by his nephew who was one of Hill's reserve deputies. Sheriff Hill shot Graham three times mortally wounding him and walked into his office, pointed his pistol to his chest and killed himself.
Neal Polk: 1942 - 1948 Sheriff Polk At the time of the tragic shooting of Constable Charlie Graham, Neal Polk was a Harris County Constable himself. Having run against and lost to Norfleet Hill in 1940, Polk was named by Commissioner's Court to fill Hill's unexpired term in January, 1942. Polk became the 22nd sheriff of Harris County.
Neal Polk

This World War I Navy veteran, former Houston Police Officer, U.S. Customs Agent and Deputy U.S. Marshal was described by the "Houston Press" as: "Tall and lithe and looks more like a Sheriff than anybody else in Texas."

Sheriff Polk was elected to a full term in 1942 and again in 1946. Then in 1947, he and his wife Ruby were indicted for income tax evation, only to have the charges dropped for lack of evidence.

During his tenure as Sheriff, Polk was credited with establishing a Civil Division, improve the Fingerprint Department and establishing a Crime Prevention Bureau. When he decided not to seek re-election in 1948, Polk was named head of the twenty-five member McCarthy Center (Shamrock Hotel) police force.

In 1949, Neal and Ruby Polk retired to the Rio Grande Valley to the life of citrus growers. There they lived out their remaining years.
Clairville Kern: 1949 - 1972 Sheriff Kern Clairville "Buster" Kern was sworn in as the 23rd Sheriff of Harris County on January 1, 1949. Buster Kern served as Harris County Sheriff for the next 24 years. In 1969 the Harris County Sheriff's Academy opened and was recognized as the best Sheriff's Department Academy in Texas.
Sheriff Clairville "Buster" Kern

Sheriff Kern brought to the job his experience as a Houston Police Department Foot Parolman, Mounted Officer, Motorcycle Officer, Desk Sergeant, Lieutenant of Detectives, Captain, Inspection of Detectives, and Chief of Detectives. Before his election, he had already served twenty years as a lawman.

During his campaign for Sheriff, Kern vowed, "The day I walk into office the gamblers will shut down!" True to his word Sheriff Kern quickly, though quietly, set about the business of ridding Houston and Harris County of its wide open gambling.

By the time Kern was through he had closed down eighty-five bookie shops, smashed slot machines and raided big card and dice games. Sheriff Kern and his men used all possible means to keep organized crime out of Harris County. Sheriff Kern was the first to put Deputies in uniform, established a Narcotics Division and Consumer Fraud Division, the Sheriff's Reserve Division was organized into seven 100-men companies. In short, Sheriff Kern brought the Sheriff's Department into the modern era.
Jack Heard: 1973 - 1984 Sheriff Heard Jack Heard was sworn in as the 24th Sheriff of Harris County on January 1, 1973. Sheriff Heard brought sweeping changes to the Sheriff's Department. The county was reorganized into five specific Patrol Districts. In 1984, Sheriff Heard was defeated by Johnny Klevenhagen.
Sheriff Jack Heard

Jack Fluellen Heard Sr., was a former Houston Police Chief and Assistant Director of the Texas Department of Corrections (now Department of Criminal Justice) brought sweeping changes to the department. Long understaffed, the Patrol Bureau and Detective Bureau were increased and the uniform was changed from the old brown to a new more modern blue. Training for deputies was increased to four hundred and fifty hours and the department got its first Policy and Ethics Manual.

During his tenure, the Harris County Jail came under the supervision of the Federal Court as a result of the "Alberti" lawsuit. Because of this lawsuit, the 1301 Franklin Street jail facility was constructed and required the hiring of many more deputies for jail duty. Also during this time, the Harris County Sheriff's Office saw its first Constables working patrol and Contract Deputies, issues that continue to be controversial today.

In 1981, Sheriff Heard mounted an unsuccessful campaign for Mayor of Houston.
Johnny Klevenhagen: 1985 - 1995 Sheriff Klevenhagen Johnny Klevenhagen was sworn in as the 25th Sheriff of Harris County on January 1, 1985. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2004. In 1995, Sheriff Klevenhagen retired in the middle of is third term and died in 1999.
Sheriff Johnny Klevenhagen

In 1984, Johnny Klevenhagen entered politics and was elected as the 25th Sheriff of Harris County on January 1, 1985. In 1998 and 2004 he was re-elected to that office by wide margins. Sheriff Klevenhagen served during perhaps the most difficult and challenging period in the department's history.

A lawman for 37 years, Johnny Klevenhagen joined the Harris County Sheriff's Department in 1961, when it had 185 employees. The Department grew in size to approximately 3,500 employees. The inmate population also grew in size to approximately 12,600 requiring the building of two new jails. To help him manage the growth of the department and the jail population, Sheriff Klevenhagen named Tommy Thomas as Chief Deputy.

In 1995, Sherif Klevenhagen retired in the middle of his third term and paved the way for Commissioner's Court to appoint Tommy Thomas as Sheriff.
Tommy Thomas: 1995 - 2008 Sheriff Thomas Tommy Thomas was sworn in as the 26th Sheriff of Harris County on June 28, 1995, assuming command of a department of 3,800 employees. He was elected to his 3rd four-year term in 2004. Thomas began his career with the Harris County Sheriff's Office in 1968.
Sheriff Tommy Thomas

Thomas started his public service career as a member of the United States Army. After being honorably discharged in 1968, he joined the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Except for a brief stint as District Attorney's investigator from 1970 - 1972, Sheriff Thomas has been with the department since 1968.

Tommy Thomas was sworn in as the 26th Sheriff of Harris County on June 28, 1995. He was elected to his 3rd four-year term in November 2004. In 1988, he was promoted to Chief Deputy under Sheriff Johnny Klevenhagen, where he remained until his appointment as Sheriff.

During Sheriff Thomas's term, Deputies George Silvio and Douglas Hudson presented a legislative bill to the Texas Legislature in the 2001 Legislative Session, which was titled "House Bill Number 875: Texas Flag Bill". This bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry on June 12, 2001.
Sheriff Adrian Garcia Sheriff Garcia Adrian Garcia is a native Houstonian, a lifelong resident of Houston'  "Near Northside". He defeated 12-year incumbent Tommy Thomas to become the 27th Sheriff of Harris County. On May 6, 2015, Sheriff Garcia officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Houston and resigned as Sheriff.
Sheriff Adrian Garcia

Sheriff Garcia is a native Houstonian and a lifelong resident of Houston's  "Near Northside". The youngest of six children, he grew up instilled with the firm values taught by his mother Maria and late father Ignacio. Garcia spent 23 years with the Houston Police Department, before becoming a city councilman. Garcia served six years as a Houston City Councilman, eventually becoming Mayor Pro-Tempore under former Mayor Bill White.

In 2008, Garcia defeated 12-year incumbent Tommy Thomas to become Sheriff of Harris County. During his tenure as Harris County Sheriff some called for Garcia's resignation over multiple jail abuse claims. Shortly after, Garcia stepped down as Sheriff to pursue other interests. On May 6, 2015, Garcia announced his intention to run for Mayor of the City of Houston.

Sheriff Garcia's resignation paved the way for Commissioner's Court to appoint Ron Hickman as Sheriff.
Ron Hickman Sheriff Hickman Ron Hickman was appointed as the 28th Sheriff of Harris County Texas on May 12th, 2015. Ron Hickman started as a cadet with the Houston Police Department in June 1971, and served in a variety of assignments. Ron Hickman was the Precinct 4 Constable prior to becoming sheriff.
Sheriff Ron Hickman

Sheriff Ron Hickman began his career in law enforcement after graduating from the Houston Police Department Training Academy in June of 1971.

Ron Hickman was appointed as the current Sheriff of Harris County Texas on May 12th, 2015 with a unanimous vote by the Harris County Commissioners court. Sheriff Ron Hickman comes to the post of Sheriff having served as Constable of the largest Constables Office in the United States, Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office from 2001 to May 12th, 2015.

Serving the Houston Police Department as an Underwater Search and Recovery Officer, a Bomb Squad Technician, and later in the Planning and Research Division, Sheriff Hickman was exposed to a variety of law enforcement assignments early in his career.

Ron discovered a career long passion for building computer systems to aid law enforcement operations.
Ed Gonzalez Sheriff Gonzalez On January 1, 2017, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez became the 30th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez began his career with the Houston Police Department. After retiring from the Houston Police Department in 2009, Sheriff Gonzalez served three terms on the Houston City Council and as Mayor Pro-Tem.
Sheriff Rd Gonzalez

On January 1, 2017, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez became the 30th Sheriff of Harris County, Texas. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez began his career serving 18 years with the Houston Police Department. He served on the elite hostage negotiation team and was assigned to the Homicide Division as an investigator.

After retiring from the Houston Police Department in 2009, Sheriff Gonzalez served three terms on the Houston City Council representing District H and service as Mayor Pro-Tem under Mayor Annise Parker.

Sheriff Gonzalez chaired the council’s Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee where he improved public safety and neighborhood protection – breaking new ground with initiatives to protect vulnerable seniors from elder abuse, expand the fight against human trafficking, reduce the public safety risks of stray animals, protect cyclists and pedestrians on city streets and protect online buyers and sellers from predators.