Produced by DPS Public Information, (512) 424-2080 September 2003

Texas Highway Patrol Division is born Dear Fellow Employee: During the past two years, 494 In a historic reorganization, the Department’s largest division is changing trooper-trainees graduated from names, opting for one patch and redrawing some of its boundaries. the Training Academy, and ap- Starting Sept. 1, the Traffic Law Enforcement Division, formed in 1968, proximately 160 more will gradu- gave way to the new Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division. ate during a ceremony on Septem- “The new name is more recognizable to the public and is more descrip- ber 5. Welcome aboard! tive of the Division’s enforcement respon- That large number of new sibilities,” said DPS Director Col. troopers means that we have a Thomas A. Davis Jr. young workforce out on the road. The division, once made up of sev- But it’s important to remember that eral commissioned services, now has only these new troopers are better two—Highway Patrol (HP) and Commer- trained and better prepared for the cial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE). The jobs they are performing than per- new HP Service incorporates Highway haps any other recruit class in the Patrol, Capitol, Vehicle Inspection and the history of DPS. Safety Education services. The growing We have a big year ahead of License and Weight Service is now called us. A large number of retirements Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. While means that many of you will have the names have changed, the functions re- the opportunity to move into man- main basically unchanged. agement positions. Take advantage All the above-mentioned services have switched to a single multi-colored of this; use the opportunity to make patch with a red background and the “Texas Highway Patrol” inscription. positive changes for the agency. (In fact, all DPS uniformed commissioned personnel will wear the new patch, Our strength lies in our ability to designating their division within the Department.) adapt to new ways of policing.

Growth is the driving force behind many of the changes, including in- ○○○○○○ creasing the number of regions from six to eight. Legislative authorization I remind you to be alert to any created 170 new patrol trooper positions—and the current recruit classes unusual activity. Our nation is still graduating Sept. 5 will start filling those slots. In addition, federal funding will under a terrorism threat, and it’s nearly double the size of the L&W Service (now known as Commercial Ve- up to all of us—commissioned and hicle Enforcement) from 401 to 704 in preparation for the eventual opening of non-commissioned—to help pro- the Mexico border to commercial vehicle traffic. tect our homeland. If you have any- Some of the highlights include: thing to report, please call the new · A new district for Region 6, including an additional captain. The 14 Texas Security Alert Hotline at counties on the western edge of the district make up the new 6C with the 1-866-786-5972.

see TLE on page 2

DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Awards Short Shots The Team is also still accepting applications for new members to at- DPS presented the Director’s Critical Incident Response Team tend the basic training in December. Award to its youngest recipient. by Dr. Fran Douglas Please contact Kathryn Hollis for an Cameron Coplin, 13, received the The DPS Critical Incident Re- application. We can really use addi- award after her stepfather lost con- sponse Team has developed a new tional peers in Region 8! trol of the family’s Suburban. Keith call-out procedure to activate peer Williams and his three stepchildren support for DPS employees and their were traveling on I-35 when Mr. Wil- families. Mile Markers liams went into insulin shock and lost Designated team members in control of the vehicle. After several each region, referred to as “regional Promotions miles, Cameron was able to regain contacts,” will dispatch team mem- CLE control by grabbing the wheel of the bers as needed to respond to critical Todd Gary Brackhahn, Sgt., car and pressing down the brake with incidents affecting DPS employees HP El Paso to Sgt., Narcotics Mid- her hand. Tr. Nathan Scherbek, HP and their families. DPS Communica- land; Geoffrey C. Aycock, Tr. IV, HP San Marcos, nominated Coplin for the tions Operators have the names of Ballinger to Sgt., MVT Brownsville. award. the regional contacts and can notify Dwayne Urbanovsky, HP the contacts of the need for team re- TLE Georgetown, was awarded the sponse. Kelly Jaye Wilkison, Tr. II, HP Director’s Citation following his at- A request for team response can Lufkin to Sgt., Capitol Austin. tempts to save an infant’s life. While also be made directly to Psychologi- off duty, Tr. Urbanovsky learned that cal Services by calling 512-424-2211. Deaths a child was not breathing or respond- The list of regional contacts, as well Kimberly Monique Brown, ing. He immediately began CPR, con- as all of the Critical Incident Re- Admin. Tech. II, Special Crimes Aus- tacted EMS, took charge of the scene sponse Team members, will soon be tin (Dec. 1996-Aug. 2003) died Au- and directed Starflight to airlift the listed on the DPS Intranet. gust 5, 2003; Linda Holt Mucala, infant. Despite his efforts, the baby Please contact Frances Dou- Examiner, DL Hallettsville (Sept. passed away. Urbanovsky attended glas at 512-424-5251 or Kathryn 1992-July 2003) died July 28, 2003; the burial and visited the parents’ Hollis at 512-424-2211 with any Betty Earl Graham, ret.Admin. home to console family members. questions regarding the Critical Inci- Tech. I, Rangers Houston (June 1981- Several family members contacted dent Response Team. Aug. 1992) died June 22, 2003. DPS to express their appreciation. NOTE: Retirements will appear in New name for TLE, contd. from page 1 the October 2003 Chaparral. district office in Bryan. ******* · The Capitol District is now des- Other THP personnel moves and pro- On the ignated as Region 7. motions due to reorganization or re- · A new Region 8, carved from tirements: mend... portions of Regions 3 and 4, encom- Maj. James Sanders, Reg. 3 Cor- Best wishes for a speedy recov- passes 13 border counties from pus Christi ery from line-of-duty injuries go Cameron to Val Verde. It was cre- Maj. Stan Clark, Reg. 1 Garland to: ated to handle the increase in CVE Maj. Tim Thompson, Reg. 6 Waco Christopher Estes, HP personnel needed to police cross- Maj. Luis Gonzalez, THP Austin Texarkana, back on duty after car border commercial traffic associated Maj. John Galvan, THP Austin wreck in June with NAFTA. The regional headquar- Maj. Mark Rogers, THP (CVE) Aus- Paul Sigman, HP Texarkana ters and a new major position are now tin Alfred Eason, HP New located in McAllen. (Maj. Artemio Caney Garza transferred from Corpus James Cain, HP Paris Christi to take this opening.) DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Several new traffic laws take effect either in a motor vehicle or a boat. · SB 895 requires that a parent The texts of these bills can be street racing increases to a Class or family member participating in found at www.capitol.state.tx.us. B misdemeanor. The law also in- the Parent-Taught Driver Educa- Select the enrolled version. creases the punishment for drivers tion Program have a valid license · SB 193 requires drivers near- who are racing drunk, who have for the previous three years. ing a stopped emergency vehicle that open containers of alcohol in the · SB 1445 amends the current has lights activated, unless otherwise vehicle when racing, who seri- law to allow limited use of electronic directed by a law enforcement of- ously injure or kill someone dur- information from the magnetic strip ficer, to: ing the race or who have been con- on the back of driver licenses by § Vacate the lane closest to the victed multiple times of illegal rac- banks—and Texas Parks and Wild- emergency vehicle, if the highway has ing. The offenses range from a life and its vendors. two or more lanes traveling the di- Class A misdemeanor a second- · HB 148 makes it a Class A rection of the emergency vehicle; or degree felony. misdemeanor to manufacture, sell or § Slow to a speed not more than · SB 439 makes it illegal to add possess a placard that is deceptively 20 miles per hour (mph) less than the reflective material, lights, emblems or similar to a disabled parking placard posted speed limit when the posted anything else that changes the color without proper authorization. A per- speed limit is 25 mph or more; or of the license plate or makes it diffi- son commits a Class B misdemeanor § Slow to a speed not more than cult to read the letters on the license if they knowingly park in a space five mph when the posted speed limit plate. The name of the state where designated for persons with disabili- is less than 25 mph. the vehicle is registered must be vis- ties using a counterfeit placard. A violation is punishable by a ible. · HB 1784 makes it an offense maximum fine of $200. If the viola- · SB 45 makes it a state jail for a person to park their vehicle tion results in property damage, the felony to drive while intoxicated with where it blocks a disabled access maximum fine increases to $500. If a passenger younger than 15. aisle that is designed to aid persons the violation results in bodily injury, · SB 613 suspends the driver li- with disabilities. the offense is enhanced to a Class B cense of anyone under 21 who is · HB 1330 allows an applicant misdemeanor. convicted of the manufacture, deliv- to voluntarily list on their driver li- · Having a video display that is ery, possession, transportation or use cense or identification card any health visible from the driver’s seat is ille- of an abusable volatile chemical. condition that might impede commu- gal. SB 209 expands the definition · HB 2096 makes human traf- nication with peace officers. The ap- of video receiving equipment to in- ficking a second-degree felony; if the plicant must supply DPS with a writ- clude digital videodisc players, vid- person trafficked is younger than 14 ten statement from a licensed physi- eocassette players or similar equip- years of age or the commission of cian. (This law takes effect Jan. 1, ment. This equipment may be used the offense results in the death, the 2004.) only if it is located so that the video offense is a first-degree felony. The NOTE: An erroneous e-mail display is not visible from the bill also makes it a Class B misde- has been circulating the Internet, operator’s seat. meanor to transport a person in a claiming that HB 281, which out- · HB 1326 automatically sus- trailer or semi-trailer. lawed talking on a cell phone while pends for one year the driver license · HB 292 strengthens an exist- driving—or without using a hands- of anyone convicted of illegally rac- ing law and allows a police officer to free device—had passed and will ing on a public roadway. Before the have a blood or breath alcohol take effect September 1. The bill license can be reinstated, the driver sample taken from a driver involved did not pass and will not take ef- would have to complete 10 hours of in an alcohol-related crash that kills fect. community service. The penalty for or seriously injures another person, DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Several new criminal laws take effect which is a first degree felony pun- ishable by up to life in prison and The texts of these bills can be but cannot keep the information or up to a $10,000 fine. found at www.capitol.state.tx.us. give it to anyone else. (Note: this law · SB 693 regulates the use of py- Select the enrolled version. went into effect on June 20.) rotechnics or flame effects displays · SB 501 allows the holder of a · SB 408 increases the punish- for entertainment and requires that Texas concealed handgun license to ment for someone who makes a ter- those displays conform with federal carry a concealed handgun in a gov- roristic threat against a family mem- regulations. ernmental building. This does not in- ber, a member of the household or a · HB 9 creates a homeland de- clude courthouses, schools or poll- public servant. The punishment in- fense strategy to improve the state’s ing places on election day. creases from a Class B to a Class A ability to detect and deter threats to · HB 12 expands the definition misdemeanor, which is punishable by homeland security, respond to home- of disorderly conduct to include a fine not to exceed $4,000, up to a land security emergencies and re- someone looking into a rest room, year in jail, or both. cover from those emergencies. The shower stall or changing room for a · Under HB 325, someone who law also declares September 11 each lewd or unlawful purpose. The of- witnesses the commission of a felony year to be Texas First Responders fense is a Class C misdemeanor pun- that could cause serious bodily in- Day. (Note: this law went into effect ishable by up to a $500 fine. jury or death and does not immedi- on June 22.) · HB 705 requires home repair ately report the crime to the police · HB 11 makes it a capital felony or delivery companies to check the can be prosecuted for a Class A mis- to commit intentional murder while criminal histories of their employees demeanor, which is punishable by a committing the offense of terroristic who enter private residences as part fine not to exceed $4,000, up to a threat. A capital felony is punished of the service they provide. Services year in jail, or both. by life in prison or death. covered under this bill include appli- · HB 420 increases the punish- · HB 284 allows a person to ance repair; heating, air conditioning ment to the next higher level for vari- carry a handgun, knife or club in a and ventilation systems; plumbing; ous offenses committed against the recreational vehicle, travel trailer, electrical systems; home product de- elderly, including theft and several camping trailer, truck camper, mo- liveries; or services where an em- fraud offenses. tor home or horse trailer with living ployee would enter a residence to · HB 532 makes it illegal for a quarters. place, assemble or install an item. The public or private school teacher to · HB 562 expands the pool of statute allows additional civil protec- engage in sexual activity with a stu- inmates who are required to submit tion if the resident requests a crimi- dent. The offense is a second degree DNA samples to CODIS (the state’s nal history prior to the employee be- felony punishable by a maximum Combined DNA Index System). A ing sent to the home. This law only prison term of 20 years and a juvenile or adult convicted of capital allows a check of criminal history $10,000 fine. murder must submit a DNA sample in Texas—not other states. · SB 433, based on the model for inclusion in the database. · SB 443 allows an administra- of family violence protective orders, · HB 716 makes it a Class B tor of a non-profit youth program to this bill allows a rape victim to ob- misdemeanor for a non-participant to check the criminal history of a vol- tain a sexual assault protective or- assault a sports participant, includ- unteer or applicant for a program that der, without regard to the relation- ing the athlete, coach, referee, etc. provides athletic, civic or cultural ship between the victim and the al- activities to children under the age of leged attacker. 17. The non-profit organization can · Under SB 837, sexual assault check the criminal backgrounds to of a disabled person is elevated to a determine suitability as a volunteer, charge of aggravated sexual assault, DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected]