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Tom Hamilton, CPP
Sgt. Keith Wilke
Charles Andrews, CFE

Sgt. Wilke is an Investigator assigned to the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force (GCVOFTF) and has been so assigned since 2005.  He has been with the HCSO since January 9, 1989.  During his time at the GCVOFTF, Sgt. Wilke has been lead, or been involved in, countless arrests of the most violent of offenders and has filed many additional charges for extraneous offenses.

Sgt. Wilke has proven to be a meticulous investigator.  He is known for his ability to organize and document very large and complicated scenes and his work ethic is beyond reproach.  The below numbers are just a sampling of the arrests Sgt. Wilke has made in the past calendar year: Murder-14, Aggravated Assault-52, Aggravated Robbery-23, Weapons Charges- 8 and Drugs-43.   

Since May of 2010, Sgt. Wilke has been the lead in the below major investigations:

May 4, 2010
Gary Lynn Ellis was wanted for Burglary out of Montgomery County, Texas.  During surveillance of Ellis, Sgt. Wilke and his team observed that Ellis was taking target practice in his back yard, indicating that weapons were present in the residence.  An approach was made and Sgt. Wilkes’ team encountered a vicious dog and observed a rifle in the residence.  Believing that Ellis was hiding in the residence, Wilke assembled an entry team and the residence was entered.  Ellis was arrested in the home and, during a security sweep; Sgt. Wilke recovered multiple forged inspection stickers, state registration stickers, drivers’ licenses and counterfeit U.S. currency in 100, 20, 10 and 5 denominations.  Wilke also discovered explosive devices and components that were identified by bomb technicians as “sticky bombs”.

June 8, 2010
On May 24, 2010, Daniel Lee Falls escaped from the Polk County Jail in Livingston, Texas.  Falls had been incarcerated on a Theft charge but had an extensive criminal history including drugs, assault, fraud and weapons charges.  Wilke began an investigation into Falls’ whereabouts on June 1 and determined that Falls may have been in the LaPorte area of Harris County.  Sgt. Wilkes’ investigation led him to a residence on 13th street where Falls was taken back into custody for Polk County.

June 21, 2010
On May 27, 2010, Derek Franklin and a co-defendant entered a jewelry store on Woodway in Houston, Texas.  Franklin and his partner pulled guns and began robbing the store and assaulting the male employee.  When Franklin and his partner attempted to leave the store, they realized that the doors were locked.  Franklin then shot out the store glass and the two left.  Aggravated Robbery charges were filed on Franklin and his co-defendant and Sgt. Wilke began his investigation on Franklins’ whereabouts.  Sgt. Wilkes’ investigation revealed that Franklin had fled to his sisters’ home in Kenner, Louisiana.  Sgt. Wilke coordinated with the U.S. Marshals’ Task Force in New Orleans and provided them with the details of his investigation which enabled the Louisiana officials to take Franklin into custody.

These cases are indicative of the work that Sgt. Keith Wilke does.  His diligence helps make Harris County a safer place to live for all of us.  Your consideration in honoring Sgt. Wilke is appreciated.