Suicide Crisis Among Harris County Deputies

Also today, friends and family said goodbye to veteran Harris

County deputy Christina Kohler. Her death last week was

ruled a suicide. Kohler is one of four current or former

Harris County deputies who've taken their own lives in just the last

six weeks. ABC 13's Jessica Willey is live tonight, and

this is leading to important conversations about the need for support.

Jessica.

Yeah, Eric, the department has a behavioral health

division that has made

great strides since it was established in 2020, and has led

the way, its director says, among law enforcement agencies.

But these recent deaths are raising serious

concerns for the deputies organization.

The question is, what more should they be doing?

It caught, uh, a lot of us by surprise.

Harris County Sheriff's deputy Christina Kohler left home last

week and was never seen again. Houston police

issuing this alert. The 37-year-old found on the 13th.

She had taken her own life. Three days later, Maria Vasquez, who

left the department in December, died by apparent suicide.

William Boseman, also a former deputy, died earlier

this week. Tragic news.

One is too many.

You know, two, three is, yes, is, is definitely

devastating.

That Jose Lopez is helping his friends and colleagues try to

process.

It hits very close to home, and

it's a reminder to us of how, how

fragile life is. Um, it, it's also

a reminder that we do need to look

out for each other. We do need to take care

of each other.

Lopez is the president of the Harris County Deputy's Organization, but he

knew two of the late deputies personally.

I knew them for over 20 years.

In just six weeks time, four current and former deputies have taken

their own lives. Psychologist Thomas McNeese is

the director of the department's behavioral health division.

These, uh,

last few weeks have been difficult for, for our staff and for, uh, the

sheriff's office as a whole.

He says he and his division work to provide resources to both former

and current

employees who are struggling. They embed to help people

feel more comfortable.

This profession, unfortunately, ha- takes a toll on people, and over

time, the longer they're in it, uh, the more of a toll that it takes.

And, uh, it changes people.

First responders historically have a high rate of suicide.

It's a combination of things like what they see on the job, and then

what the job entails.

While the department has been focused on mental health, often leading the way,

Lopez says these last few weeks have raised

questions.

We can't help to, to ask the question of, uh,

um,

is that enough?

You know, do we need to do something, uh,

different? Uh, what else can we do?

And as they work to support those grieving, McNeese with this

message to anyone who might be in crisis.

Reaching out, getting some help, doing something to be able to

not stay stuck where you're at is really important.

Jessica Willey, ABC 13, Eyewitness News.