Constables urge 17.5% raises, say chief deputies now earn more

Several Harris County constables told the Aug. 20 grievance hearing they have been without base-salary increases since 2016 and urged the committee to correct what they described as a persistent pay disparity.

Constable Alan Rosen (Precinct 1) asked the committee to approve a 17.5% increase and said the constables "handle over 42% of all crime in Harris County," arguing leadership pay should reflect responsibility. Ted Heap (Precinct 5) and Sherman Eagleton (Precinct 3) said decade-long stagnation has left constables below their chief deputies even after recent county adjustments. Sylvia Trevino (Precinct 6) said the sheriff's salary is $217,483 and his chief deputy $185,182, and asked that the committee apply the same 17.5% gap to constables so their base would be roughly $177,483.

Speakers cited past budget choices and repeated studies. Constables said the disparity can harm recruitment and retention and noted chief deputies and other command staff have received successive adjustments that left elected officers behind. "I've been in law enforcement in Harris County for 41 years... I'm not fighting for myself. I'm retiring December 31; I'm fighting for everybody who comes after," Ted Heap told the committee.

Committee members questioned whether a flat 17.5% differential was the correct comparator, noted the size differences between sheriff's office and constable precincts, and discussed setting a single consistent salary for all constables to avoid small intra-precinct differences. HR and county staff said a countywide compensation study will benchmark jobs and inform future adjustments.