Four Harris County Deputies Dead by Suicide in Six Weeks, Raising Alarms About Mental Health in Law Enforcement
Agencies respond with grief and concern as department reflects on growing crisis
By James Seidel | CC News Network
HOUSTON, TX — A wave of heartbreak has swept across Harris County law enforcement as four current and former deputies have died by suicide within a span of just six weeks, prompting calls for stronger mental health support and renewed attention to the unseen toll of the job.
The most recent tragedy was the death of Deputy Christina Kohler, 37, whose body was discovered on March 13 after being reported missing for nearly two weeks. Kohler, who joined the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in 2018, served in the courts division.
Only days after Kohler’s passing, former deputy Maria Vasquez, who had left the department in December, also died by suicide. Earlier in the month, former deputy William Bozeman was also found dead under similar circumstances. The string of tragedies began with Long Nguyen, a 58-year-old former deputy who took his own life on February 6, according to the Harris County medical examiner.
In total, four suicides involving Harris County deputies have occurred in just over a month—a crisis that has left the law enforcement community stunned.
“One is too many. Two? Three? Yes, it’s definitely devastating,” said Jose Lopez, president of the Harris County Deputies’ Organization FOP #39. “It caught a lot of us by surprise.”
Lopez, who personally knew two of the fallen officers for over two decades, said deputies are still reeling from the losses and grappling with profound grief.
4 former and current Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies take their own lives in last 6 weeks https://t.co/AwRRa4nq7q
— Blue Lives Matter (@RetiredNYCPD) March 23, 2025
Department Facing Deepening Mental Health Crisis
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Division, led by Dr. Thomas McNeese, was established in 2020 under Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to address the growing need for peer-to-peer support and mental wellness programming across the agency.
“These last few weeks have been difficult for our staff and the sheriff’s office as a whole,” McNeese told KHOU 11. “This profession, unfortunately, takes a toll on people. And, over time, the longer you’re in it, the more of a toll it takes. It changes people.”
According to Houston Police Officers’ Union President Douglas Griffith, the suicide risk among law enforcement officers is 54% higher than in the general population.
McNeese noted that while the average person may face one or two traumatic incidents in a lifetime, law enforcement officers might face similar trauma in a single shift.
“It’s a combination of what they see on the job and what the job entails,” McNeese said. “It’s OK to not be OK, but it’s not OK to do nothing about it. You don’t want to stay stuck there.”
Despite the HCSO’s mental health efforts, Lopez admitted the recent deaths have led to serious reflection.
“We can’t help but ask the question—are we doing enough? What more can we do?”
A Call to Break the Stigma
Kohler’s funeral was held on Thursday, with friends, family, and fellow officers honoring the veteran deputy. Her death, and the others that followed, have led to a public plea for deeper conversations about mental health—particularly in high-stress professions like law enforcement.
“It hits very close to home and it’s a reminder of how fragile life is,” Lopez said. “We do need to look out for each other. We do need to take care of each other.”
McNeese said he hopes these tragedies will be a turning point, breaking the stigma surrounding suicide and encouraging officers to seek help.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers confidential 24/7 support at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
James Seidel – Publisher, Journalist, Author. Investigator, Podcaster, Radio Talk Show Host, and Music Producer.
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