The Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), founded in 1837, is the largest sheriff's office in Texas and the third largest in the United States. The HCSO has nearly 5000 employees dedicated to ensuring the safety of over 4.1 million residents who call Harris County home. Harris County encompasses 1788 square miles and includes forty-one incorporated municipalities, including the city of Houston, Texas.

Harris County is a vast metropolitan area - home to one of the most culturally rich cities in the nation. As of 2021, there have been 30 sheriff's elected and/or appointed. All of which were white males, except two. In 2008, Adrian Garcia, was elected the first Hispanic sheriff and in 2017, Ed Gonzalez became the 30th sheriff and the 2nd Hispanic elected to the office.

• There has never been an African American sheriff in the 184 years of the Harris County Sheriff's Office.... Houston, we have a problem!

Similar to his predecessor, the current sheriff, Ed Gonzalez, has recently announced he has been asked by the Biden administration to serve as the Director of ICE, Department of Homeland Security.

So here is where YOU come in.... we NOW have the opportunity to elect the first black sheriff in Harris County, but FIRST, our Commissioner's Court must appoint a replacement for the vacating sheriff, Ed Gonzalez.

Now allow me to introduce CAPTAIN GRADY CASTLEBERRY. Not only is Captain Castleberry a 30-year veteran of the Sheriff’s department, but as a senior officer he has received extensive training in law enforcement and leadership. After this past year with increased tensions between police and black communities across this country, including Houston, appointing the first black Sheriff is one way to re-establish community trust. 

Captain Castleberry is often called upon by Sheriff Gonzalez to serve on special forces, like the emergency management unit and special crimes. He is vice-president of the African American Deputies Union, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and has been endorsed by state legislators, educators, community activists, and church leaders as the number one candidate for the appointment to sheriff.

"Good policing and departments comes more from the culture of police departments rather than the individual officers". (PEW study on criminal justice)  It is with this in mind that Captain Castleberry with a master's degree and FBI National Academy training is best suited to follow the data and best practices toward reducing crime and building better relationships with neighbourhoods.

Please show your support by signing this Petition! The Democrat members of Commissioner's Court are Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Adrian Garcia and County Judge, Lina Hidalgo. It is up to them to make history by appointing the FIRST BLACK SHERIFF. 

When Rodney Ellis decided to seek the appointment to County Commissioner, he looked to the black community for support. We now call upon him to stand up and support the most qualified candidate! Wouldn't YOU like to see Commissioner Rodney Ellis be the FIRST to nominate Grady Castleberry as the first black sheriff of Harris County! 

All three of these Commissioners were elected to office due to 89% of Black voters in Harris County.  Rodney Ellis, Lina Hidalgo and Adrian Garcia could NOT have won without the support of black people in this county.

WE ONLY HAVE UNTIL JULY 19TH before they vote!

If you live in Harris County, Texas...... Please sign today!