| Human Resources Bureau
The Human Resources Bureau was formed in 1993, and currently operates with a staff of approximately 90 personnel who are assigned to the following divisions: the Sheriff’s Office Training Academy, Career Development, Personnel Services, Extra Employment and Systems. The Personnel Services Division is comprised of Recruiting and Background Investigations, Uniform Supply/Inventory Control, and Family Assistance. The Business Office is supported by Payroll, Purchasing and Bookkeeping.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Academy was established in 1969, at the direction of Sheriff C. V. “Buster” Kern, to comply with new T.C.L.E.O.S.E. rules. The first basic class, which consisted of 28 students and required 140 hours of training, convened on October 27, 1969.
Since that first class in 1969, the Sheriff’s Academy has graduated 143 regular Basic Peace Officer classes, totaling 4301 cadets. The Sheriff’s Academy has always exceeded T.C.L.E.O.S.E. minimum standards. Currently, cadets attending the Basic Peace Officer course are required to complete 28 weeks of training. The Academy trains officers from many other agencies as well. Additionally, the Academy provides fitness and firearms testing for the Sheriff's Office.
With a staff of one captain, one lieutenant, one registrar, two clerks, two sergeants and six deputies, the Academy was responsible for providing training to students from all over Texas in 2007. In addition to the full-time Academy staff, more than 100 adjunct instructors conduct a broad variety of in-service training and continuing education classes at ancillary sites.
The new shooting range complex, which includes an all-weather range, covered areas on all ranges for student comfort, pneumatic targeting systems, a rifle deck, a “hot house”, a multi-classroom building and solid security fencing is officially opened for business in July of 2005. This state of the art shooting range will provide the finest in training to all deputies who utilize it.
A new Sheriff/Fire Training Academy, a 9.2 million dollar state of the art facility opened in March of 2006.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office Academy staff looks forward to 2008 as it continues to provide the most modern and innovative training curriculum to its basic classes and to those individuals who desire to take advanced training in their area of interest or endeavor.
The Detention Training Section, formerly part of Support Services Bureau, consists of one sergeant and four deputies. In November of 2005, Detention Training was reassigned to the Academy; thereby, merging all training under the same command. This was a positive move for the department as it stream-lined training, prevented duplication of training, and allowed the Academy to expand training courses that be offered to the personnel of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Detention Training’s primary responsibility is focused around the Basic County Corrections Course (Jail School) and preparing students to sit for the T.C.L.E.O.S.E. test to earn their permanent Jailer’s License. This section has achieved the highest T.C.L.E.O.S.E. pass rate in the State of Texas, and has maintained this honor for the past six years.
Detention Training conducted all “CPR/AED” classes for the department, “Inmate Management – Trustee” for the precincts utilizing orange band workers, “New Supervisor’s Course” mandated by T.C.L.E.O.S.E., as well as all state mandated courses.
Career Development administers proficiency and incentive pay, as well as keeping track of required training for estimated 3,500 deputies and civilian personnel employed by the department.
The Recruiting and Background Investigation Section of the Personnel Services Division, process all pre-employment testing, background investigations and processing of all applicants for the Sheriff’s Office. In 2007, the members of this section received and processed over 12,600 resumes, tested over 4,000 applicants, and hired 474 new employees.
Family Assistance provides support and assistance in situations involving serious injury or death to members of the Sheriff’s Office and their families. This unit comprised of two full-time employees and 20 volunteers answered 600 calls for employee assistance in 2007.
The Extra Employment Unit is the custodian of all applications for extra employment by civilian and sworn personnel. This feat is accomplished through the efforts of a sergeant, a deputy and a clerk. This includes ensuring that all Sheriff’s Office members who engage in outside employment opportunities comply with rules and regulations set forth by the department and routinely performs compliance checks on new businesses seeking to employee department members. In 2007, this unit processed in excess of 6,500 applications for extra employment.
The Business Office coordinates and manages the Sheriff’s Office budget. Business Office employees are responsible for the procurement of equipment and processing all accounts payable, acting as the liaison to Commissioner’s Court when approval from the Court is needed for purchases. This section is additionally responsible for purchasing of the equipment and office supplies utilized by the department; seeks out and drafts requests for grants for various areas of the Sheriff’s Office and oversees all payroll activities for the department.
The Systems Section, also assigned to the Business Office, has several diverse responsibilities.
The Data Control is responsible for the accuracy and integrity of Harris County data records relating to the arrest and detention of defendants. Activities include data corrections, local record splits and consolidations, CJIS Arrest Reporting, Criminal History Reporting, and Data Report distribution.
The Project Analysts are responsible for application support in Legacy systems, as well as finding and implementing new tools and procedures to assist the Sheriff’s Office in its day to day operations. This support can be in the form of correcting program problems, enhancing existing applications or reports, coordinating connections to other external systems, or assisting in functionality training. This section ensures that timely and accurate information is entered into the NCIC/TCIC (national and state) databases and makes certain that compliance with NCIC/TCIC rules and regulations are maintained as they relate to personnel and devices that access the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS).
In essence, the Human Resources Bureau provides “behind the scenes” support to our most important commodity – our employees. |
