What we know after four deputies from Texas police department die by taking their own lives in six weeks

HCSO Deputy Maria Vasquez’s death was announced last week

Maria Vasquez died within days of her colleague (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)

Within days of Kohler’s death, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that HCSO Deputy Maria Vasquez, who left the department in December 2024, had also died by suicide.

The 42-year-old apparently died at her home in the 8600 block of Almeda Genoa Road, Houston.

Both Kohler and Vasquez’s lives were memorialized by an HSCO Facebook post, with the Office’s Community Engagement Division writing: “Heaven has gained two beautiful angels.

“May their memory be a blessing, inspiring strength and comfort to their friends, family and coworkers during this challenging time.”

Two more ex-deputies have taken their lives

Kohler and Vasquez aren’t the only deaths to rock the HSCO, with former deputy William Bozeman also being found under similar circumstances, according to ABC 13 Eyewitness News.

On February 26, it was reported that former HSCO debut Long Nguyen, 58, had also died by suicide, as per the medical examiner.

Experts call for struggling first responders to ‘reach out’

It’s understood William Bozeman was found dead in similar circumstances (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)

Director of the Trauma and Resilience Center at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Ron Acierno, has said the stigma around officers seeking treatment mental health treatment during both work and retirement needs to be subdued.

“Much like the veteran community and the active-duty community, the idea is to tough it out. Or whether it’s due to the fact that they just didn’t know the help was available, or didn’t think it could help,” he told Click 2 Houston.

He explained that the Trauma and Resilience Center offers Texan first responders mental health support.

“We do have effective treatments. They aren’t fun. They aren’t comfortable. They’re very action-oriented. . .The focus is on changing what you do to change how you feel.”

Meanwhile Dr. Thomas McNeese, the director of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Division, has acknowledged the significant emotional burden of the profession.

He said that the profession unfortunately ‘takes a toll on people’ and that over time, it can ‘change’ a person.

“Reaching out. Getting some help. Doing something to be able to not stay stuck is really important,” he continued.