HOUSTON—In January, Harris County Sheriff’s deputies were involved in eight shootings, according to department records. In all, 11 people were injured in those incidents.
That is as many or more deputy-involved shootings than the agency saw in all of 2007, 2008 or 2009.
Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said there is no clear explanation for the rise in shootings.
"I have no idea. I would hope this means we’ve got the busy part of the year out of the way," he said.
One reason deputies may be shooting more is because suspects are shooting more, too, said Robert Goerlitz, the president of the Harris County Deputies Organization.
"The criminal element is becoming bolder," he said.
According to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, assaults on peace officers have risen more than 30 percent in the last three years, with a total of 475 cases last year.
The most recent shooting happened last Thursday. Jose De La Rosa, a suspect in a double slaying, was fatally shot after a short chase.
His mother, Sara De La Rosa, expressed anger at the Harris County deputies who killed her son. However, investigators said the man fired on the deputies first, forcing them to defend themselves.
"It’s one of the last things a deputy wants to see happen," Garcia said. "It’s one of the last things we want to see happen as an organization."
He said more than one family suffers when an altercation ends in gunfire – the officers are affected, too.
"Every time a shooting occurs, my phone goes off. My wife calls me—are you involved in it? Are you OK?" said Goerlitz.
Goerlitz said the growth in violence is something no one wants to see.
