Chief Mike Lee, Houston

Mike Lee is a seasoned law enforcement executive with over 35 years of experience in public safety leadership, strategic program development, and multi-agency collaboration. He currently serves as the Director of the Office of Research & Development at the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), where he leads high-impact initiatives and legislative efforts to enhance law enforcement practices and community engagement. Previously, he served as the Chief Deputy of HCSO, overseeing the agency’s operations, strategic direction and led the effort to secure over $250 million in Capital Improvement building projects for the HCSO.

Lee joined HCSO in 2017 after a distinguished 27-year career with the Houston Police Department (HPD), retiring as a Captain. As Major of Patrol and Special Projects at HCSO, he managed all patrol operations and developed collaborative response models for mental health crises and homelessness. His leadership led to the creation of several innovative programs, including the Crisis Intervention Response Team, the Homeless Outreach Team, the Boarding Home Detail, and the Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) telehealth program. While Assistant Chief of the Law Enforcement Command, he spearheaded the development of specialized Crime Reduction Units and Community Problem-Oriented Policing (CPOP) Units in all five patrol districts.

Beyond his work at the HCSO, Lee has played a key role in multi-agency collaborations, contributing to the establishment of the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Jail Diversion Center, the Harris County Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART), the Narcan Opioid Reversal Medication Project, the Vivitrol Addiction Recovery Program, and the Employ2Empower homeless workforce program. His extensive experience in crisis intervention and community policing has strengthened public safety initiatives across the region.

Lee holds a Master of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor of Science in Government and History from Evangel University. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute, Sam Houston State University’s Leadership Command College, and the American Leadership Forum. His commitment to innovative policing and public safety excellence continues to shape law enforcement strategies in Harris County.