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Twenty-three new sheriff's patrol deputies swore an oath to protect Harris County today at graduation ceremonies at the HCSO's academy.

As part of building up the agency's frontline crime-fighting force, Sheriff Adrian Garcia pinned new badges on each deputy and got children of some deputies involved in the ceremony. (Two photos attached).

The patrol force is expected to reach 735 deputies by next spring as the population in the unincorporated areas of Harris County continues to expand. The patrol force does not include the many deputies assigned to traffic control, traffic accident investigation, crime scene investigation and investigations of crimes ranging from burglary to sexual assault to capital murder.

"I'm so proud that these men and women have stepped forward, trained and graduated so they can help us keep Harris County safe as so many people decide to make our community their place to raise a family, get an education and move up the economic ladder," Garcia said.

The new deputies include HCSO employees who have served as civilian detention officers in the county jail.

Also at today's ceremonies, 34 members of the HCSO Explorers Program -- a training and public service initiative for youths ages 14-20 -- received certificates for completing a rigorous 1-week academy course that included firearms training. HCSO's Explorer program is the second largest in the nation.

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