H.R. No. 207
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Elwood Mitchell retired as captain investigator for
the Harris County District Attorney's Office on December 27, 2024,
drawing to a close an exemplary career in law enforcement that
spanned more than four decades; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, Woody Mitchell joined the Harris County
Attorney's Office as a chief investigator, and four years later, he
was appointed to captain investigator with the DA's office; his
duties included overseeing the planning, forecasting, and
strategic direction of the Investigative Bureau; a licensed master
peace officer and law enforcement instructor, he supervised a team
of investigators, providing leadership across multiple specialized
divisions such as the Civil Rights and Public Corruption Division,
Digital Forensics Division, and Fugitive Apprehension Unit; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell spent his entire 41-year career in law
enforcement with Harris County, beginning as a deputy with the
Precinct 5 Constable's Office in 1983; two years later, he joined
the Harris County Sheriff's Office, working as a jailer and deputy
until 1997; he then accepted an investigator position with the
county attorney's office and was assigned to the Children's
Protective Division at the Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services and the Harris County Hospital District; and
WHEREAS, In 2001, Mr. Mitchell was appointed assistant chief
with the Precinct 4 Constable's Office; in that role, he was
responsible for supervising patrol operations for the jurisdiction
as well as overseeing 130 subdivision contract programs and school
police programs with the Cypress-Fairbanks and Tomball Independent
School Districts; he was also assigned to oversee the Civil, Writs,
and Warrant Divisions of the department with responsibility over
investigations in the High-Tech Crime Unit, Domestic Violence Unit,
and Game Room Task Force; moreover, he was directly involved in
leading-edge components of computer forensic technology in law
enforcement and had personnel assigned to the FBI's Greater Houston
Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory; and
WHEREAS, During his 14-year tenure as assistant chief,
Mr. Mitchell served with distinction and was recognized for his
leadership and strong relationship with subordinates and staff; his
thoroughness and attention to detail, though sometimes taken to
excess, was recognized as a valuable asset to the department; he
commanded a large contingent of the largest constable's office in
Texas and worked honestly to maintain the harmony and respect of
those under him; regardless of the challenges confronting him, he
maintained his focus on the safety and well-being of his personnel
and the public he was committed to serve; following his tenure with
the department, he served as a major with the Harris County
Sheriff's Office for two years, and, as a member of its Criminal
Investigations Bureau, he was responsible for the integrity of the
office's investigative operations; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mitchell attended Sam Houston State University,
majoring in criminal justice, and is a graduate of the Texas
Constables Leadership Command College and Texas Constables
Leadership Institute programs of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement
Management Institute of Texas; he successfully completed the FBI
Law Enforcement Executive Development Series, and he is also a
graduate of the Leadership North Houston program of the Houston
Northwest Chamber of Commerce, where he served as a member of the
board of directors; in addition, he has served on the board of
directors of Cypress Creek EMS; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished career with
Harris County law enforcement agencies, Woody Mitchell was
recognized with numerous awards and greatly benefited his fellow
citizens through his skill, professionalism, and longstanding
commitment to public service, and he may reflect with pride on his
outstanding contributions to his profession and to those he
influenced along the way; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Elwood Mitchell on his retirement
as captain investigator in the Harris County District Attorney's
Office and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Chief Mitchell as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Harless
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 207 was adopted by the House on March
6, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House