Katy Deputies Care for the Youngest Victims in Traumatic Situations; Community Donations can Help
- May 27
- 3 min read
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 27, 2026
By Natalie Cook Clark
Deputies focus on more than patrolling and policing. On some calls they strive to help show a positive to young victims experiencing a trauma. Community support can help them make a difference in victims’ lives.
Last Thursday, May 22, 2026, deputies with Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 5 responded to a domestic violence call off of Park Row in Katy where a woman had been tased and stabbed by her husband. The suspect left the scene with the couple’s two children, a 3-month-old daughter and a 7-year-old son.
Deputies located the suspect and children at a nearby hotel. He was arrested on charges of Aggravated Assault-Family Member. While this was all being sorted out, two of the deputies, who are both parents themselves, comforted the children while waiting for CPS.
“When we arrived, the baby was on the sofa,” says Corporal Destinee Valazco. “I have children and I didn’t want the baby being left on the sofa so I went to pick her up.”
At that point Corporal Valazco says she was a mom and not an officer as she quickly started to change the baby’s soaked diaper and fed her a bottle.
“I just wanted to make this baby happy,” says Corporal Valazco.
Meanwhile, her partner put cartoons on for the 7-year-old boy and bought him chocolate milk.
“We wanted these children to see the positive side of what we do,” explains Corporal Valazco. “They don’t know that they can trust us and we want to show them we are here for them.”
Corporal Valazco says that being a mother helps her with patience in the work that she does. She says that sometimes she feels it takes a mom to lean into those mom instincts to help certain situations.
Precinct 5 has a Victims Assistance Office that collects donations of stuffed animals, coloring books, etc. They also collect pajamas for Domestic Abuse Victims every October.
“As deputies, we go to that department often to make sure our vehicles have supplies, something physical to hand a child or a victim to help them feel comfortable in a bad situation. We can always use more,” says Corporal Valazco.
Community members, especially families over the summer who are looking for a family project, can deliver donations of new stuffed animals and other items to the Victims Assistance Office as 541 S. Mason Road. Those making donations are asked to call ahead for an appointment to avoid showing up with the department is assisting victims. Call 832-927-1368 for a drop off appointment.
“We happily accept anything that a deputy can use,” says Barbara McInnis, with Victims Assistance. “Anytime a victim can get something in their hands it can deescalate the situation.”
McInnis stresses that traumas can have long term effects and this act of kindness gives them something else to focus on.
CPS assessed the situation and the children in this case were released to a family friend until their mother could get to them. She is expected to make a full recovery.
“It’s heartbreaking because this will be a traumatic event for these children,” says Corporal Valazco. “I hope that they will remember the positive and that we were there for them.”
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