History of the Commission

PETITION

As required by §158.033(a), a petition was presented to the Fort Bend County Judge on September 1, 2011. The petition and signers were validated by the Fort Bend County Elections Office on September 6, 2011.

The petition was completed by 516 of the 718 Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office employees, or 71.9 percent.

ELECTION

As required by §158.033(b), the Fort Bend County Judge held a secret ballot election on October 11, 2011 under the direction of the Fort Bend County Elections Office.

In accordance with §158.033(d), the County Judge canvassed the votes and on October 12, 2011 declared the result of 565 “For” and 5 “Against” the creation of a sheriff’s department civil service system. A total of 570 employees voted in the election; a turnout of 78.8 % of the total number of 723 employees in the sheriff’s office.

As required by §158.034(a), a majority (99.1 %) – 565 of the 570 employees – voting at the election approved the creation of a sheriff’s department civil service system. This resulted in the formal establishment of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS

In accordance with §158.034(a) on November 22, 2011, the following individuals were appointed as the initial members of the Commission:

In accordance with the procedure outlined in §158.034(b), Sheriff Milton Wright designated Earnest Taylor as the Chairman of the Commission on December 6, 2011.

The first formal meeting of the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission was held on February 15, 2012.

In accordance with the procedure outlined in §158.034(c)(2), Commissioner Cantu was appointed for a term of one year, and Commissioners Taylor and Slavinski were each appointed for a term of two years. The terms of all three original Commissioners commenced on February 15, 2012.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations were first approved by the Commission on March 21, 2012.

Upon taking office in January of 2013, Sheriff Troy Nehls designated Stephen Brady as his appointee to the Commission replacing Otoniel Cantu, Ph. D. whose term expired February 15, 2013. Commissioner Brady will serve a two year term commencing February 15, 2013.

On May 2, 2013, Sheriff Troy Nehls named Stephen Brady as Chairman of the Commission – the second Chairman in the Commission’s history.

Effective February 15, 2014, District Attorney John Healey named Robert Gracia to replace Earnest Taylor whose term expired February 14, 2014. Also effective February 15, 2014, Commissioner’s Court reappointed Bobby Slavinski as the Court’s Civil Service Commissioner appointee for a new two-year term.

Effective February 15, 2015, Sheriff Troy Nehls named Lanny Hitchcock to replace Stephen Brady as Commissioner. Also effective February 15, 2015, Sheriff Troy Nehls named Robert Gracia to replace Stephen Brady as Chairman of the Commission – making Mr. Gracia the third Chairman in the Commission’s history.

On February 2, 2016 Commissioner’s Court approved Bobby Slavinski to a third two-year term, and District Attorney John Healey reappointed Robert Gracia as Commissioner. Both appointments were for a two-year term effective February 15, 2016. Robert Gracia continued as Chairman.

Sheriff Troy Nehls reappointed Lanny Hitchcock for a second term as Commissioner effective February 15, 2017.

On February 6, 2018 Commissioner’s Court approved Bobby Slavinski to a fourth two-year term, and District Attorney John Healey reappointed Robert Gracia as Commissioner for a third two-year term. Both appointments were effective February 15, 2018. Robert Gracia continued as Chairman.

Sheriff Troy Nehls reappointed Lanny Hitchcock for a third term as Commissioner effective February 15, 2019.

On January 23, 2020 District Attorney Brian Middleton reappointed Robert Gracia as Commissioner for a fourth two-year term, and on January 28, 2020 Commissioner’s Court appointed Otoniel Cantu, PhD (an original member of the Commission in 2011) to replace Bobby Slavinski as their representative on the Commission. Both appointments were effective February 15, 2020. Robert Gracia continued as Chairman.

Currently, the members of the Commission are: