The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the Texas Senate, to serve without pay for staggered, six-year terms. The commission formulates plans and policies for enforcing criminal, traffic and safety laws, for preventing and detecting crime, for apprehending law violators and for educating citizens about laws and public safety. The DPS Director and Assistant Director report to the Commission. The Director's staff includes the interim Director, Stanley E. Clark, who holds the rank of Colonel, and interim Assistant Director Lamar Beckworth, who holds the rank of Lt. Colonel.
The agency is headquartered at 5805 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin
Administration
The Administration Division maintains DPS property, provides training to other divisions, and operates the Crime Records Service. The Crime Records Service maintains criminal justice information and issues concealed handgun licenses.
Criminal Law Enforcement
The Criminal Law Enforcement Division focuses on drug trafficking, organized crime, and motor vehicle theft. The division also provides crime lab services to other law enforcement agencies.
Driver License
The Driver License Division is responsible for the issuing and revocation of Texas driver's licenses.
Texas Highway Patrol
The Texas Highway Patrol (formerly the Traffic Law Enforcement Division) is the division most frequently seen by citizens. Troopers of the highway patrol are responsible for enforcing traffic and criminal law, usually in unincorporated areas, and serve as the Texas state police. State troopers also serve in management and administrative positions at Driver License Division offices. Every division office has at least 2 uniformed troopers assigned to it.
Texas Rangers
Probably the most well-known division of the DPS is the Texas Rangers. Rangers are responsible for state-level criminal investigation, among other duties.
Governor's Division of Emergency Management
The Division of Emergency Management is responsible for coordinating statewide emergency planning and response. Typical emergencies are weather-related (hurricanes, floods, tornadoes), but the DEM also has responsibility for containing outbreaks of infectious disease and containment of hazardous materials. The DEM is also responsible for administering Texas' AMBER Alert network.
