Adrian Garcia to be sworn in as Harris County’s first Hispanic sheriff

KHOU-TV—January 2nd, 2009

There’s a new sheriff in town in Harris County. Adrian Garcia will be sworn in as the next leader of the sheriff’s office this weekend.

It’s a historic event, because Garcia will be the county’s first Hispanic sheriff. Garcia worked for 23 years as a Houston police officer and five years as a member of the Houston City Council.

He defeated incumbent Sheriff Tommy Thomas after a tumultuous year that included an U.S. Dept. of Justice investigation into inmate deaths in the county jail.

The sheriff’s department employs 4,000 people and spends an average of $1 million a day.

It’s a huge responsibility, and Garcia believes he is ready.

“I’m just fortunate that I’ve got my own little speck of participation in history, and I’m honored and it’s a great day to be in this country,” Garcia said after he was elected.

Garcia has also worked with the mayor’s anti-gang task force and with several levels of government to coordinate health and neighborhood safety programs for his council district.