Welcome to our series on alums from UHD's College of Public Service's Criminal Justice program who have had a significant impact on the Houston community and beyond.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez kicked off his long-standing role in law enforcement after earning his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from UHD’s College of Public Service. The native Houstonian's journey to Sheriff began at the Houston Police Department (HPD), where he quickly moved up the ranks from Peace Officer to Sergeant. In 2009, Gonzalez was elected to Houston City Council, where he represented District H for three terms, in addition to chairing the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. He also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Houston Recovery Center, and after his first year was tapped to lead the disaster recovery team for Hurricane Harvey. From creating the agency’s first Behavioral Health Division to spearheading public safety initiatives to expanding the agency’s homeless outreach and crime prevention unit, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is a force to be reckoned with.
In 2016, Gonzalez was elected as the 30th Sheriff of Harris County, the largest sheriff’s office in Texas, and reelected for a second term in 2020. Now, the Gator alum has yet another accolade to add to his list. On October 12, 2024, UHD honored the outstanding alum with the esteemed Golden Gator Award for his service and dedication to Harris County.