Leadership

Chief Diaz began his law enforcement career in 2004 as a detention officer assigned to the 701 Jail. Chief Diaz’ most recent assignment was leading the Law Enforcement Command as an Assistant Chief which consisted of all field operation functions including Patrol, Investigations, Strategic Response and Support Functions. He has served in all sworn ranks within the agency.

Chief Diaz is a graduate of the FBI National Academy Session 271 and holds a Bachelor of Art in History from Texas A&M University.

Chief Jackson joined the Houston Police Department (HPD) in 1985. After graduating from the Houston Police Academy Class #129 as class president, he worked patrol until he was promoted to Sergeant in 1989. Robert served in a variety of positions at that rank, including patrol supervisor, and head of the Mayor of Houston’s security detail for six years. After being promoted to Lieutenant, he was assigned to HPD’s Night Commander position where he served as the direct representative of the Chief of Police at high profile and large-scale incidents occurring during nighttime/weekend hours.

While serving as a peace officer, he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston Downtown and earned a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He retired from the department in 2010.

After retiring from HPD, Chief Jackson served as Chief of Staff for (former) City of Houston Council Member C.O. “Brad” Bradford, and as Chief Policy Officer for the Houston First Corporation. He also served as an Associate Judge for the City of Houston Municipal Court system from 2013-2015. He joined the Harris County District Attorney’s Office as Chief Investigator in December 2020.

Chief Jackson is a U.S. Army Veteran, having served his country as a member of the Military Police Corps in both the continental United States and in Europe.

Assistant Chief Bosquez started his law enforcement career in 2002 as a patrol deputy with the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office near the San Antonio and New Braunfels metropolitan areas. He joined the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) in 2013 as one of four field inspectors for the entire state, ensuring that all 239 Texas jail facilities meet requirements. He was also one of the lead content developers for the state-mandated examination for persons seeking to hold the jail administrator position.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez appointed Assistant Chief Bosquez to the 701 Detention Bureau as Major in early 2021 and Assistant Chief over Detention Operations Command beginning early 2023. His role with the state regulatory agency equips him with the extensive knowledge of corrections procedures and policies necessary to keep every person in the Harris County Jail safe, healthy, and better prepared to contribute positively to the community. His understanding of the workings of Texas jails puts the agency in a position to see continued safety, innovation, and professional transformation.

Assistant Chief Bosquez is a certified master peace officer, master jailer, and mental health peace officer who truly enjoys making a difference in a person's life when they need it most. His experience with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and law enforcement equips him with extensive knowledge of corrections procedures and policies necessary to ensure the safety of everyone located in the Harris County Jail.

Assistant Chief Nanny has worked in many assignments within the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. In 1995 he transferred to the Patrol Bureau where he worked in District 2 until 1999, when he transferred to district 4 as an FTO. In 2001 he was assigned to the Burglary Apprehension Response Squad (BARS) before being promoted to Sergeant, where he was assigned to the 701 Jail. He then transferred to District I patrol where he was the District One Field Training Supervisor. He later promoted to Lieutenant and served as a Commander in various assignments such as Patrol, Internal Affairs, and Homeland Security/HIDTA. He promoted to Captain in 2016 and served as the Division Commander in the Detention Bureau, Patrol Bureau, Academy Director, and Crimes Against Person Division of the Criminal Investigations Bureau.

Assistant Chief Nanny holds a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice and Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University. He is an alumnus of the FBI National Academy Class #239 and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas Class #52. Assistant Chief Nanny also graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police in July 2024.

Suarez, a twenty-one-year veteran of the HCSO, began his career as a Detention Officer in 2003 and completed the HCSO Academy B2-2004. As a Patrol Deputy, Suarez received the highest honor in 2007, the Bravery Commendation, for his heroic actions during the pursuit and arrest of a wanted Capital Murder suspect who was threatening the community violently with a firearm.

In 2013, Suarez was promoted to Sergeant, leading the Narcotics Unit and the Houston High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Major Drug Squads Task Force. In 2018, Suarez was promoted to Lieutenant and led the Tactical Response and Organized Crime Sections. In 2022, Suarez was promoted to Captain and commanded the Women's Empowerment Center, an innovative facility that focuses on reducing recidivism.

In 2023, Assistant Chief Suarez was appointed Major over the Criminal Investigations Bureau, responsible for solving murders, violent crimes, burglaries, sexual assaults, family violence, and organized crime. He oversaw the agency's undercover efforts, primarily auto thefts, human trafficking, and drug-related offenses.

Assistant Chief Suarez earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Lamar University and a Master of Public Safety from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), and the Harris County Sheriff's Office's Leadership Development Institute (LDI).

Major Anderson was promoted to Detention Sergeant in 2009 when a career ladder was created for detention officers. During her time as a Detention Sergeant and Detention Lieutenant, she worked in Operations, 1200 Housing and Inmate Services. Anderson also commanded the Detention Command Containment Team.

Major Anderson is a certified master jailer who has worked closely with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to ensure the Harris County Sheriff’s Office meets state-mandated standards. She is also a certified training instructor. Anderson has been a presenter for the Women in Criminal Justice Conference and the Texas Jail Association Conferences.

Major Anderson is a graduate of the National Jail Leadership Academy at Sam Houston State University. She is a member of the American Jail Association and is currently on the Texas Jail Association Board as the Secretary.

During his career Major Blendermann has had multiple assignments including Patrol Field Training Officer, Field Training Supervisor, Field Training Coordinator, Burglary Apprehension Response Squad supervisor, Coordinator for the Harris County Junior Mounted Posee from 2003-2019, started the Taser control unit 2003-2015, and developed the HCSO Explorer program in 2011.

Major Blendermann has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in public administration from Texas A & M concentrating in International Affairs. Al, a former Eagle Scout and has been active as an adult in the Boy Scout of America as an adult leader including being a Scoutmaster for many years in the Tomball area of Harris County. In addition, he is a member of Second Baptist Church and has been on their security team since 1985.

Throughout his 29-year career, Major Collier has held a variety of roles, including positions in Patrol, Detentions, Community Services, Investigations, the Office of Inspector General, the Executive Bureau, as a Public Information Officer, and in Emergency Management. His broad experience has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of law enforcement operations.

Major Collier’s exceptional career has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, such as Unit Citations and Lifesaving Awards. He is highly skilled, holding certifications in Hostage Negotiation, Firearms, TCOLE Instructor, and Advanced SWAT.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Major Collier is academically distinguished with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston Downtown, a master's degree from Sam Houston State University, and is a proud graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 278. He is also an inaugural graduate of the HCSO Leadership Development Institute.

He began his career with the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) in January 1993 and has faithfully served the residents of Harris County for over 30 years. He attended Basic Peace Officer's training at the University of Houston Police Academy and graduated with top Academic Honors. Major Dean holds a Master Peace Officer Certification and has been recognized by the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast District Exchange Club for his outstanding service and achievements in Crime Prevention.

Major Dean attended Texas Southern University, where he studied Business Management and Psychology. He also completed numerous leadership/management courses during his tenure at the HCSO. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Lamar University.

Major Dean served in the United States Marine Corps for nearly eight years. He attended Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School and received other "specialized" military training. Some of his noteworthy assignments were at the United States embassies abroad in Warsaw Poland, Tokyo Japan, and Abidjan Ivory Coast, West Africa.

Major Ferguson began his career in law enforcement in 1997 with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, initially as a civilian dispatcher. After a brief period, he transitioned to a detention officer role and graduated from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Academy (Class B1, 2002).

Following his graduation, Major Ferguson began his field career at the Inmate Processing Center (IPC) and later served in District 2 Patrol. He then moved into investigative positions in the Robbery and Homicide Divisions, honing skills in managing complex cases. He was later promoted to sergeant and supervised the Crimes Against Children Unit, concentrating on protecting vulnerable community members.

As he advanced to lieutenant, Major Ferguson’s leadership facilitated the development of processes that significantly reduced backlogs in child abuse, violent crime, and warrant cases.

After his promotion to captain, he helped establish an investigative unit within the Detention Command, focused on human trafficking, gang intelligence, and drug interdiction.

In 2025, Major Ferguson attained the rank of major, reflecting his service and leadership within the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He continues to undertake new responsibilities in line with the office’s mission and values.

Major Herndon joined the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in 1991 as a detention officer at the 701 Jail. She graduated from the Sheriff’s Office Academy in 1994. In 1999, Major Herndon promoted to the rank of sergeant and began her career as a supervisor. As a supervisor, she worked in Detentions, Courts, Transportation, Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigations, and is presently the bureau commander of Support Services. Over her 33 years of service, Major Herndon achieved the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. In 2023, after 23 years as a supervisor, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez promoted her to the rank of major.

Major Herndon is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy session 257. She also attended the Leadership Development Institute and was the 2024 First Responder of the Year. She holds a TCOLE Instructor License and a Master Peace Officer License.

Major Katrib began his law enforcement career in 2001 as a Reserve Deputy while working as a Structural Engineer. Joining the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in 2004, he advanced through the ranks, previously serving as Captain of the Courts Division.

As a Lieutenant, Major Katrib led the Crime Scene Investigations Unit and Homicide Unit. He implemented community outreach programs in CSI and achieved three consecutive years of accreditation. In Homicide, he developed a multi-agency CODIS website with HCIFS.

As a Sergeant, Major Katrib established Texas’s first Judicial Threats Investigation Unit. During his tenure as a Patrol Deputy, he received the U.S. Attorney’s Office Public Service Award for undercover narcotics work. As a Robbery Investigator, he earned the 100 Club’s Officer of the Year Award for dismantling violent organizations.

Major Katrib holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Houston and is a graduate of the Leadership Development Institute. He also served on the Houston Christian University Strategic AI Program board.

McClanahan began her law enforcement career with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy in 1995. After completing the Basic Peace Officer’s Academy, she was assigned to the District 2 Patrol Division. In 1998, she joined the Harris County Sheriff’s Office as a full-time deputy and was assigned to the 701 jail facility.

During her time with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, she has served in a variety of divisions, including the 1200 jail facility, Courts, Inmate Records, Inmate Processing, Adult Sex Crimes, Domestic Violence, and Crimes Against Children.

Major McClanahan obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston Downtown in 1994 and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston Downtown in 2003.

He is a thirty-one-year veteran of the HCSO, who began his career as a detention officer, completed the Basic Peace Officer Academy in 1994, and was promoted through the ranks until Sheriff Ed Gonzalez appointed him Major in January of 2025.

During his career he received the Bravery Commendation, for his actions during the capture of a suspect that had escaped the custody of another Deputy. Major McConnell also received several unit citations as well as an award because of his residential burglary investigations.

As a Deputy, Major McConnell was assigned to the 1301 Franklin jail then the 701 Jail. Transferring in 1997 to District Two Patrol where he worked as a patrol Deputy, proactive Deputy (Weed and Seed Task Force), having a K-9 partner for some of that time until his K-9 partner “Tessa” retired. He then transferred to the Burglary Apprehension Response Squad (B.A.R.S.) where he investigated residential burglaries. As a Sergeant he was assigned to the Inmate Processing center, Patrol, and the Crime Scene Unit. As a Lieutenant, he was assigned to the 1307 Baker St jail, Crime Scene Unit before leading the Narcotics Unit, the Vice Unit, and the Human Trafficking Unit. As a Captain, Major McConnell has been assigned over the Compliance Unit, Vehicular Crimes Division, and the Evidence Management Division.

Major McConnell graduated from the FBI National Academy Session 262 in 2015.

He also serves as the Chairman of the Promotions, Awards, and Commendations Committees and as the Assistant Chair of the Leadership Development Institute. In these roles, he plays a key role in guiding strategic initiatives, fostering leadership growth, and recognizing outstanding achievements within the organization.

Major Tommy Shelton, Jr. has had a distinguished career with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office since joining in November 1990 as a Detention Officer. After attending the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy and graduating in December 1991 (class B4-91), he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2003, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Before joining the HCSO, he served three years with the Texas Dept. of Corrections.

He holds numerous law enforcement credentials, including Master Peace Officer, Master Jailer, TCOLE Instructor, and Mental Health Peace Officer. Major Shelton’s leadership roles have spanned various divisions, such as Executive Command, Neighborhood Policing, Patrol, Human Resources, Information Technology, Backgrounds and Recruiting, Fleet Management, Crisis Intervention Teams, Behavioral Health, Uniform Supply, Evidence Management, Property Room, Reports Section, SOBER Court, Emergency Dispatch Center, Inmate Processing Center, Fire Life Safety, and Detention Operations Command.

His commitment to law enforcement and innovation has earned him several honors, including the National Exchange Club Harris County Sheriff’s Office Officer of the Year award in 2000, the Core Value Award for Innovation in 2011, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award from the Downtown Optimist Club of Houston in 2012, the DWI SOBER Court Hero Award in 2013, a Sheriff’s Commendation for Bravery in 2014, and a Unit Citation in 2017 for his service as Division Commander of the Compliance and Inspection Team.

Major Shelton’s career reflects a blend of dedication to service, leadership, and a continued commitment to public safety and innovation in law enforcement.

Major Smith’s law enforcement journey began upon completion of her freshman year of college. In July of 1989, she joined the City of Houston where she worked as a jailer for six years. She then joined the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in February of 1995 where she has been since. Major Smith worked as a Detention Officer for a short time before entering the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy where she become a certified peace officer in December of 1995.

In February 2005, Major Smith was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where she oversaw operations in the Inmate Processing Center and the Baker Street jail. She also oversaw the Medical and Mental Health Units.

Major Smith was later selected to head up a new Use of Force Review Unit which became an arm of the Office of Inspector General- Internal Affairs Division. During her tenure there, she was instrumental in creating the framework for the Use of Force Review Unit.

In August of 2012, Major Smith promoted to the rank of Lieutenant where she led the Medical and Mental Health Unit, Central Records Division, the Property Room and several others.

In January 2017, Major Smith made history as one of the first two Black women in the Sheriff's Office to be promoted to the rank of Captain. She served as the Commander of the West District Patrol for three years before taking on a pivotal role as Director of the Training Academy from February 2020 to September 2024.

During her time at the Training Academy, she played a key role in advancing the Academy Expansion Plan, a significant project that secured funding and became one of many capital improvements within the HCSO. As the Academy Captain, she spearheaded the initial proposal to add additional training classrooms, addressing the department's growing training needs.

In September 2024, she transferred to the Human Resources Division before being offered the opportunity by Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, to serve on the Command Staff as a Major in December 2024.

Major Smith is a graduate of the Leadership Development Institute and holds both a TCOLE Instructor License and a Master Peace Officer License.

Director Klozik is a twenty-three-year veteran with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and is currently assigned to the Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC) as the Director. He graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and is a graduate of the Sheriff’s Office Leadership Development Institute.

Director Klozik started his career as a Detention Officer and graduated the HCSO Academy in 2003. He promoted up to the rank of Lieutenant and held various positions within the Sheriff’s Office before becoming the Director of the EDC. Director Klozik is also a current member of the HCSO Reserve Division as an Instructor the HCSO Academy. He has received multiple Unit Citations relating to assignments in the Dispatch Center and the Patrol Division and was a 4x MADD award winner as a Deputy.

Director Klozik possesses multiple certifications by the State of Texas licensing agency, TCOLE; Certified Telecommunicator, TCOLE Instructor, Mental Health Peace Officer, Mental Health/CIT Trainer, and he holds a Master Peace Officer License. Director Klozik is also a certified by the National Emergency Number Association as an Emergency Number Professional (ENP) and completed the Center Manager Certification Program (C.M.C.P.)

His team of highly qualified accountants and business professionals develops financial plans, prepares financial forecasts, and assesses division budgets. The team also conducts internal audits of the agency’s various divisions and grant programs, as well as operates and maintains its financial management systems.

Director Lanham prepares and submits budget presentations to Harris County Commissioners Court, supporting discussion on fiscal year budgets for the Sheriff’s Office and outlining how both existing and requested new funding will be used to achieve the agency’s mission and public safety priorities.

Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2012, Director Lanham has implemented financial dashboards, performance metrics, overtime tracking/reporting, a pre-purchasing application that replaced an outdated paper-driven process, expanded the grants team, and consistently brought the department in under budget.

He has held numerous roles over the course of a private industry and public service career which spans more than three decades, including auditor, financial analyst, accounting manager, controller, and chief financial officer. He proudly served in the U.S. Army for four years in Nuremberg, Germany, followed by eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves, rising to the rank of lieutenant.

Director Lanham is a certified public accountant, certified business analysis professional, and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration degree.

As Legislative Liaison, Director Lee connects HCSO with legislative bodies, monitoring public safety legislation, providing expert guidance to the Sheriff, and testifying on critical issues. As Director of Special Projects, he leads initiatives to deliver strategic resources, implement best practices, and enhance operational effectiveness.

Director Lee joined HCSO in 2017 after a distinguished 27-year career with the Houston Police Department, and held leadership roles as Major, Assistant Chief, and Chief Deputy. He led the $100M Harris County Public Safety Bond projects, providing unprecedented infrastructure for the agency. He played a pivotal role in developing programs like the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Jail Diversion Center, HART, Violent Persons Task Force, and Houston Recovery Center, significantly enhancing public safety.

Director Lee holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and History from Evangel University and a Master’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from Our Lady of the Lake University. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute, Sam Houston State University’s Leadership Command College, and the American Leadership Forum.

In 2018, he was appointed Commissioner for the Texas Supreme Court Judicial Commission on Mental Health. His accolades include the IACP Community Policing Award, the Goldstein Award for Problem-Oriented Policing, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Gary P. Hayes Award.

The BHD, established in 2020 under Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, provides comprehensive mental health services and integrated behavioral operational support. Comprised of embedded specialists, the BHD offers 24/7 crisis consultation and non-crisis support throughout the agency. The division also serves the extended first responder community and partners with multiple institutions of higher learning. By incorporating best practices and adapting them to HCSO’s needs, the BHD aims to set a new national standard for law enforcement behavioral health. Director McNeese also serves as a subject-matter expert for the department related to human behavior, oversees the Peer Support Network, and is active on the Crisis Negotiations Team.

A Mexico City native fluent in Spanish, Dr. McNeese holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, an M.A. in Psychology, and an M.Ed. in Counseling. He earned an MBA from Rice University. Director McNeese completed a pre-and post-doctoral fellowship at BCM, focusing on personality disorders, severe mental illness, and trauma. He holds a Clinical Assistant Professor appointment at BCM and established the nation’s first APA-accredited Predoctoral Psychologist Fellowship focused on embedded law enforcement mental health. He previously held a faculty appointment through UTHealth. Director McNeese contributes to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Police Psychological Services Section and actively participates in professional organizations emphasizing foreign relations, multicultural services, citizen engagement, business, and psychology. His experience includes providing expert witness services in over 1,500 criminal cases.

Before her current role, she served as the Director of HT Intelligence at the Harris County District Attorney's Office (HCDAO), since 2017, during which her team of task force investigators and crime analysts filed a record-breaking number of HT-related charges in the county’s history.

Before the HCDAO, Director Manuel was a Staff Analyst with the Houston Police Department (HPD), where she expanded her expertise in strategic planning and operational evaluations. Along with other commendation awards, Director Manuel was recognized as the HPD’s Civilian Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2016, a distinction she uniquely holds for consecutive year wins.

While a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., her experience working at the Pentagon took on profound significance following the September 11th attacks, which motivated her to become a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer. A two-time combat veteran, Director Manuel served 12 years on active duty and continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve. She was honored with several awards throughout her career, including the Bronze Star Medal.

Reflecting her dedication to the criminal justice system and organizational efficiency, Director Manuel holds a Bachelor's in Administration of Justice and a Master’s in Business Administration.

With more than 33 years of information technology and law enforcement experience, Director Spurger has led organizational transformation through IT solutions' strategic adoption and management. He provides leadership in building and supporting the HCSO’s information technology infrastructure and business processes. He is also responsible for providing training opportunities for employees in new technologies that enhance the department’s operations. Director Spurger is also the administrator of the body-worn camera systems.

In 2015, he created the first High-Tech Crime Unit for the HCSO. This unit includes investigations, mobile device forensics, video forensics, a Mobile Video Team, an FBI regional computer forensics lab (RCFL) component, and the Technical Operations Unit. Director Spurger is the board chairman of the RCFL Law Enforcement Liaison Committee.

He was a founding member of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce and acted as the Deputy Commander for two years. Mr. Spurger was the primary author of the Cybercrime Investigators Certification course for Texas (TCOLE 3210).

Director Spurger is a member of the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists as a Certified Forensics Computer Examiner. He is a Leadership Command College graduate and holds a Master Peace Officer license, an instructor license, and numerous forensics certifications.

Throughout her career, Director Weinberger has built a reputation as an innovative leader who streamlines processes, enhances staff performance, and drives organizational success. Her tenure with HCSO has been marked by transformational initiatives, including modernizing recruitment processes, improving employee relations programs, and implementing cutting-edge HR technologies such as PeopleSoft and NeoGov.

A passionate advocate for employee engagement and development, Director Weinberger strives to empower her HR team to serve as a resource and partner to all HCSO employees. Under her leadership, the HR division has prioritized customer satisfaction, accountability, and operational efficiency, ensuring every employee's needs are met with professionalism and care.

Director Weinberger holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Universidad de Monterrey and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in talent acquisition, compensation, benefits, and workforce planning. Her dedication to creating a positive workplace environment and her strategic vision make her an invaluable asset to the HCSO and its mission to serve the community.

Spencer joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2017 as Director of Public Affairs. He previously served as Press Secretary and the Superintendent’s Chief of Staff for the Houston Independent School District. Spencer also served as Assistant Superintendent for Communications and Governmental Affairs for the Aldine Independent School District.

A Houston native, Spencer began his professional career in journalism, working 14 years as a local news reporter and editor at the Houston Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, and the Brazosport Facts newspapers.

Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.