In recent weeks, a Texas law enforcement agency has faced an alarming pattern of losses. As officials work to understand the scope of the crisis, the department is under pressure to evaluate its approach to mental health support for officers.
In the past six weeks, four current and former deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) have died in separate incidents. This has left the department and the community reeling with shock. The circumstances of their deaths, though unrelated by time and location, share a tragic common thread.
As details emerge, the losses raise deeper concerns about the toll of the job, the challenges officers face even after leaving the force, and whether more could have been done to prevent these tragedies. Most people now question the effectiveness of existing mental health resources.
The first of the four deaths occurred on February 6, 2025, when 58-year-old Long Nguyen, a former Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy, was found dead. According to the medical examinerâs report, his death was ruled a suicide.
Little information has been shared about Long’s tenure with HCSO or the events leading up to his passing, but his death marked the beginning of what would become a devastating pattern for the department.
In early March 2025, just weeks after Long’s death, another former deputy, William Bozeman, was also found dead in similar circumstances. While little information has been released about his career or the details surrounding his passing, his death deepened concerns about the well-being of both current and former HCSO personnel.
Then, on March 12, 2025, the department issued a Houston Regional CLEAR Alert for Deputy Christina Kohler, 37, after she was reported missing. The following day, on March 13, Christina was found dead. The medical examiner confirmed her death as a suicide.
Christina had served with HCSO since 2018 and was most recently assigned as a bailiff in the 182nd District Court. Her colleagues described her as a dedicated officer, and her sudden passing left those who knew her in shock.
HCSO confirmed her death in a public statement, offering condolences and announcing that mental health and peer support services were being made available to grieving deputies. Tragedy struck again just three days later. On March 16, 2025, former Deputy Maria Vasquez, 42, was found dead at her home on Almeda Genoa Road in Houston.
Maria had left the department in December 2024, but despite her recent departure, her passing deeply affected those who had worked alongside her. In the wake of Christina and Maria’s deaths, HCSO’s Community Engagement Division honored both women in a statement.
“Heaven has gained two beautiful angels. May their memory be a blessing, inspiring strength and comfort to their friends, family, and coworkers during this challenging time,” it read. With four suicides in just six weeks, the department found itself facing a crisis that extended far beyond individual cases.
The deaths of four current and former Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies reflect a larger issue that has long affected law enforcement. Studies show that officers face higher suicide rates than the general population, yet mental health struggles in the profession often go unaddressed.
A 2023 report by the U.S. Fire Administration revealed that 58% of first responder suicides in the U.S. involved law enforcement officers. Between 2016 and 2022, at least 1,287 officers and correctional staff died by suicide.
More than half (51%) of these suicides occurred within local police departments, while 20% involved sheriff’s offices like HCSO. Despite growing awareness, many officers hesitate to seek help due to fear of professional consequences.
Dr. Ron Acierno, director of the Trauma and Resilience Center at UTHealth Houston, explained that law enforcement officers often avoid mental health services because of stigma.
“Much like the veteran community, the idea is to tough it out,” he said. “Or whether it’s due to the fact that they just didn’t know the help was available, or didn’t think it could help.”
