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(HOUSTON, TX) – HCSO Deputy Terry Garza was recognized for her service and commitment to public safety during the East Aldine Management District’s Strategic Partners Awards held at the Greer and Lowdermilk Conference Center Tuesday night.

Dep. Garza was recognized for her ‘dedication for giving back to the East Aldine community’ through her volunteer work with the Harris County Sheriff’s Explorer Post 42.

Explorer Post 42, with about 40 active members, is the #1 explorer post in Texas. At the 2013 National Law Enforcement Explorer Conference in July, Dep. Garza’s post brought home 14 team trophies, tied for 1st place in the triathlon competition, and won 1st place overall.

Since its creation in October 2011 Explorer Post 42 members have logged more than 300 hours of community service.

“We stay pretty busy,” says Dep. Garza who volunteers her time as a post advisor and works full time as a patrol deputy in northeast Harris County.

“They were looking for volunteers to train these young adults,” recalls Garza of the creation of the Sheriff’s Explorer Program. “I pretty much got ‘voluntold’ into the program,” she says with a laugh. “In patrol you want to go after the bad guys and put them in jail. I already took care of kids but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding jobs. You get to enhance your own training by teaching these kids,” she says.

Deputy Terry Garza joined the HCSO in 1991. She left in 2006 to work as a special investigator with Children Protective Services but returned to patrolling the streets of Harris County in 2008.

Deputy Garza has four daughters and two granddaughters. Her husband, Craig, is also part of the HCSO family as a patrol deputy in east Harris County.

Congratulations, Deputy Garza!

The Harris County Sheriff’s Explorer program gives young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with deputies of the HCSO.

The program is open to teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 (must have completed 8th grade) and 21 interested in a career in law enforcement. Student participants get a first-hand look at what it takes to be a law enforcement officer and decide early on whether it is a career they want to pursue.

There are five Explorer posts within the HCSO, one assigned to each patrol district.

For more information about the HCSO’s Explorer Program please visit www.hcsoexplorers.com.