Harris County will spend $120,000 for private security for Lina Hidalgo
replacing constable deputies on the judge’s security detail at an estimated cost of $120,000 over three months.
Hidalgo, the first woman and first Latina to fill the county’s top elected role, is also the first to maintain a dedicated security detail. She has said county law enforcement officials recommended the move after she began receiving a barrage of threats earlier in her term. “It’s very clear that security, broadly speaking, particularly in the unfortunate political environment we’re in, is something that’s necessary for the institution, as opposed to ad hoc for one elected official or the other,” said Hidalgo, a Democrat who is seeking a second four-year term in November.
Cagle, one of the two commissioners to oppose the contract, said he wanted every court member to be “secure in our job,” adding that they should be allowed to seek security protection from constables or the Sheriff’s Office. But he joined Ramsey in criticizing the move to hire an outside firm, instead of continuing to employ in-house security.Rosen, whose office previously oversaw Hidalgo’s security detail, said the judge was “well protected” under the watch of his deputies.
“Politics has gotten very vitriolic,” Ellis said, invoking the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “If it can happen there ... it can happen anywhere.” The purchasing department will publicly solicit bids through a request for proposal next week, Dopslauf said.
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