A Texas police department is reeling after four deputies died by suicide within just six weeks, leaving officers and the community in shock.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recently confirmed the death of Deputy Christina Kohler, 37, who had served in the courts division since joining the force in 2018. Kohler was reported missing two weeks ago, and her body was discovered on March 13.
In addition to Kohler, three former deputies also died by suicide over the past six weeks.
Jose Lopez, president of the Harris County Deputies Organization, expressed the department’s grief, saying, “It caught a lot of us by surprise. One is too many. Two? Three? It’s definitely devastating.”
Houston Police Officers’ Union president, Douglas Griffith, highlighted the mental health risks officers face, stating that suicide rates among law enforcement officers are 54% higher than in the general population.
Three days after Kohler’s death, it was announced that former Harris County deputy Maria Vasquez, who left the department in December 2024, had also died by suicide.
Earlier that week, former deputy William Bozeman was found deceased under similar circumstances. Additionally, former deputy Long Nguyen, 58, took his own life on February 6, according to the medical examiner.
Reflecting on the tragedies, Lopez emphasized the importance of supporting one another: “It hits very close to home. It’s a reminder of how fragile life is and that we need to look out for each other.”
Dr. Thomas McNeese, director of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Division, described the past few weeks as “difficult for our staff and the sheriff’s office as a whole.” He noted that law enforcement takes an immense toll on officers, explaining that while an average person may experience only two critical incidents in their lifetime, an officer could face that level of trauma in a single shift.
McNeese stressed the need to break the stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement: “It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to not do something about it. You don’t want to stay stuck there.”
HCSO reiterated that mental health support is available for all officers as they navigate this difficult time.
