This article has been updated since publication.
A growing pay gap between Harris County Sheriff’s deputies and Houston Police Department officers has sparked frustration within the county’s law enforcement ranks.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies warn that without significant salary adjustments, it will be hard to keep the ranks staffed.
The tension comes after Mayor John Whitmire unveiled a sweeping five-year contract proposal that would boost Houston Police Department starting salaries from approximately $64,000 to $81,000 by July 2025.
This $24,000 gap over first-year pay rates would widen an already existing disparity, as Harris County deputies currently earn about $57,000 annually.
Jose Lopez, president of the Harris County Deputies’ Organization, described the situation as an urgent crisis. “It’s already very hard to retain what we have. We’re not even talking about trying to recruit,” Lopez said. “This is absolutely an emergency.”
Lopez argues that without competitive wages, Harris County could struggle to attract and retain experienced officers, potentially compromising public safety.
He told Texas Scorecard, “Deputies are frustrated and exhausted. They see officers in neighboring jurisdictions being valued and compensated appropriately, while they continue to risk their lives for significantly less.”
“We’ve absolutely seen a spike in resignations, and our recruitment classes are shrinking,” he added. “This is becoming an emergency because every day we wait, we lose more experienced deputies. If this continues, the department will struggle to maintain staffing levels, putting public safety at risk.”
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a vocal advocate for higher deputy salaries, has also weighed in, urging county commissioners to act swiftly.
“If it was up to him, we would have gotten raises four or five years ago,” Lopez said about the sheriff.
“Recruiting strong candidates to serve and protect Harris County residents, and also keeping veteran peace officers who have already shown their commitment to public service, will require a significant investment,” Gonzalez posted on X.
“The public safety stakes are too high for inaction, and it’s time for some tough budget decisions,” Gonzales added.
Harris County currently faces a $130 million budget deficit.
Republican Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey told Texas Scorecard, “I have advocated and voted for all motions for Commissioners Court to give pay raises to deputies. Many of those motions either died for lack of a second or were voted down in fear of SB 23. I agree with the Sheriff that our deputies, including our Constables, deserve more pay.”
“The County has more than enough money to achieve that,” added Ramsey. “It’s a matter of cutting wasteful spending and focusing on our statutory responsibilities, which our jail and patrol officers are a part of.”
Ramsey said that he would continue to advocate for cutting waste, highlighting potential savings in “the County Administrator’s Office ($25M), Access Harris ($50M), HART ($10M), Boston Consulting Group ($23M), PFM Consulting ($8M), and jail outsourcing ($50M).”
Last year, all eight Harris County constables received significant pay increases.
Lopez called for swift action, warning that without immediate changes, the department risks losing officers to better-paying agencies.
“Budget constraints are no excuse when public safety is on the line,” he added. “Houston found a way to prioritize their officers with a 36.5% raise over five years. Harris County must do the same if we are serious about public safety.”
