517 – Armed Detention Officer Program
I. Purpose
This policy establishes directives for Armed Detention Officers.
II. Definitions
Armed Detention Officer (ADO) – a licensed county jailer who, after meeting the requirements of this policy, is permitted to carry a firearm and less-lethal weapon(s) under the following circumstances: when transporting Harris County Jail prisoners outside the jail, while guarding Harris County Jail prisoners in area hospitals, other outside health care facilities, to/from/during court proceedings, and while traveling to and from his or her place of assignment.
Unnecessary Stops – any stop by the ADO in public that is not immediately necessary for their personal well-being or based on urgent need. (See Section VIII. in this policy).
III. Policy
It is the policy of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to permit certified Armed Detention Officers to carry a firearm and less-lethal weapon(s) while performing certain duties within the course and scope of their job responsibilities.
Armed Detention Officers will be tasked with transporting Harris County Jail prisoners outside the jail, transporting Harris County Jail prisoners to/from courts, assisting bailiffs in a court room, and with guarding Harris County Jail prisoners in area hospitals or other outside health care facilities.
IV. Qualifications to Become an Armed Detention Officer
Any Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) detention officer who meets the requirements listed in this policy may apply for an ADO assignment. To serve in an armed assignment, a detention officer must meet and maintain the following requirements:
A. Be twenty-one (21) years of age,
B. Be a TCOLE certified jailer with an active jailer license,
C. Possess a valid Texas Driver License,
D. Be in good standing with HCSO,
E. Be licensed to carry a firearm [see e.g., Tex. Gov’t Code § 411.1993],
F. Successfully complete the HCSO ADO Training Program,
G. Successfully complete Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT) training through the HCSO Academy,
H. Successfully complete a Jail Firearms Course (TCOLE #3599) through the HCSO Academy [see Tex. Occ. Code § 1701.2561(c) & 1701.355],
I. Pass annual firearm qualifications through the HCSO Academy in accordance with Policy #702 – Firearms Control, Qualifications, and Training [see Tex. Occ. Code § 1701.355(a-1); 37 Tex. Admin. Code § 218.9],
J. Be the recipient of a Jailer Firearm Certificate by TCOLE and file the certificate with the HCSO Academy [see Tex. Occ. Code § 1701.2561; 37 Tex. Admin. Code § 221.45], and
K. Successfully complete any additional training required by HCSO, including the Court Security Course.
V. Carrying and Storing of Firearms and Ammunition
A. Armed Detention Officers are only authorized to qualify and carry semi-automatic firearms, along with a Taser if they are Taser certified. For a list of authorized firearms, refer to Policy #702 – Firearms Control, Qualifications, and Training, Section II. B.
B. Firearms and ammunition are prohibited within the secure perimeter of HCSO detention facilities.
C. Firearms and ammunition carried by Armed Detention Officers must be securely stored in an employee locker in the gym area on the first floor of each jail facility prior to entering any secured area.
D. Armed Detention Officers are admonished to use the utmost caution when carrying, using, or storing weapons, both on and off duty, to ensure no person is injured.
NOTE: Use of the gun lockers in the front lobby is prohibited. The gun lockers in the lobby are reserved for visiting law enforcement officers and deputies (as they may need to respond to incidents in the interior perimeter of the facility).
VI. Field Training
A. Probationary Armed Detention Officers will be trained by the HCSO ADO Training Program and by Field Training Officers for field training. Probationary Armed Detention Officers must successfully complete field training before they escort and guard inmates on their own in an armed capacity.
B. Probationary Armed Detention Officers should receive a tour of the following hospitals, including the emergency rooms and patient areas, with their field training officer prior to escorting or guarding an inmate.
1. St. Joseph Medical Center; 1401 St. Joseph Parkway, Houston, TX 77002.
2. Ben Taub Hospital; 1504 Taub Loop, Houston, TX 77030.
3. Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital; 5656 Kelly Street, Houston, TX 77026.
4. Memorial Hermann Medical Center; 6411 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030.
5. Other authorized outside health care facilities.
VII. Required Equipment
A. Full uniform in accordance with Policy #240 – Dress Code.
B. Duty belts that must be equipped with an approved holster and magazine pouch, along with at least one handcuff case.
VIII. Stops While in Uniform
Armed Detention Officers will not make unnecessary stops while wearing their uniform and firearm when traveling to and from work, unless exigent circumstances arise.
A. Examples of activities that may constitute exigent circumstances include:
1. To visit a restroom.
2. To obtain medical care or medicine for an illness or emergency.
3. Involvement in a traffic accident or other emergency requiring the employee to render aid, summon law enforcement, or summon emergency services.
B. Examples of activities that would not fall under exigent circumstances and are not permitted include:
1. Shopping or personal errands.
2. Dining inside of a restaurant.
3. Any other activity that would have the employee armed in the public eye for extended periods of time when not engaged in the performance of their ADO duties.
C. The provisions in A and B above are an effort to prevent Armed Detention Officers from being involved in a law enforcement action or incident by a member of the public mistakenly believing the ADO to be a Texas peace officer. Generally, any unnecessary stop made by an ADO may subject both the employee and HCSO to liability; thus, employees are cautioned to not put themselves or HCSO at risk.
IX. Call Out Procedure
A. An operations sergeant will contact an ADO when needed (e.g., for transport of an inmate to a hospital or to guard the inmate at a hospital) and will provide the officer with the details of the assignment.
B. The ADO will obtain a Taser from the operations sergeant prior to leaving the jail facility.
C. If an inmate is being transported between a hospital and a jail, the Armed Detention Officer will ride in the back of the ambulance with the inmate, unless riding in an HCSO vehicle.
D. If an inmate is already at a hospital and the ADO is needed for relief, the ADO may travel to the hospital in his or her privately owned vehicle if a supervisor, deputy, or detention officer with a county vehicle is not available to transport the detention officer.
E. The classification status of the inmate (e.g., escape risk or high profile) will determine the number of armed personnel assigned to transport and guard the inmate while at the hospital.
F. When an ADO is relieved from his or her assignment, he/she must return his/her Taser to the operations section unless otherwise directed by a supervisor.
X. Incidents Involving Use of Force / Discharge of a Weapon / Injury to an Inmate or Any Other Person
A. Armed Detention Officers must secure the scene whenever a use of force or weapon discharge occurs in the performance of their duties.
B. Any use of a weapon by an ADO requires immediate notification by the officer to HCSO EDC (Emergency Dispatch Center) and their immediate supervisor as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
C. Armed Detention Officers must follow Policy #501 – De-escalation & Response to Resistance whenever they are involved in a weapon discharge, use of force, or any situation causing injury to an inmate or any other person.
XI. Reports
A. The ADO must document any incident requiring a report in the Offender Management System (OMS).
B. A deputy from Detention Command or Law Enforcement Command will complete a report relating to any incident requiring a law enforcement report.
XII. Supervisor Responsibilities
A. The operations sergeant is responsible for contacting an ADO when needed for an assignment.
B. An updated list of Armed Detention Officers will be maintained in Operations. This list will also include the Armed Detention Officers’ qualification dates.
C. The operations sergeant will maintain a log of Tasers issued to Armed Detention Officers.
D. The on-duty operations sergeant will be responsible for completing Blue Team entries for any incident requiring such entry.
E. The ADO Program Training Coordinator will be responsible for documenting the Armed Detention Officer’s successful completion of the required field-training program.
Revision
This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:
September 21, 2021
March 1, 2025
March 6, 2025 (Technical Changes)