Produced by DPS Public Information, (512) 424-2080 August 2004

THP troopers continue setting records Dear Fellow Employee, On August 6, yet another class By Tom Vinger of trooper-trainees will graduate Assistant Chief of Media Relations from the DPS Academy. They’ve Drug seizures by DPS troopers increased in 2003—making it the third worked hard and learned a lot. highest dollar total in DPS history. Their loved ones should be proud According to 2003 statistics released by the , of them. DPS troopers confiscated illegal drugs valued at $156.6 million while on I would say to the graduates routine patrol duty. That ranks third all-time behind 1994 ($196 million) that they should also be proud of and 2001 ($169 million). themselves—and they should con- Texas troopers have led the nation in highway drug seizures for the last tinue to behave in ways that will several years. make the rest of us proud of them. The 2003 totals represent a 15 per- Integrity is one of the things that cent increase from the year before when makes our agency so well re- more than $136 million in controlled sub- spected by other law enforcement stances were taken off the streets. agencies and by the public. Our Cocaine, marijuana and methamphet- integrity is diminished whenever amine seizures were all up compared to one of our employees does some- 2002. thing that reflects poorly on us.

Some of the highlights in 2003: ○○○○○○ · Methamphetamine seizures of As our trooper-trainees head 145 pounds were a record for DPS troop- out into the field, school children ers. across the state will be headed · The 2,118 drug arrests are the back to school. Be careful. And highest in DPS history. remember to watch out for school · Troopers also confiscated more buses that are stopped to load or than 37 tons (74,299 pounds) of mari- unload students: Motorists who juana—the second highest in DPS history. are cited for driving past a stopped · Cocaine seizures topped one ton (2,356 pounds) worth an esti- school bus whose red alternating mated $105 million—fourth best in DPS history. flashing lights are activated can “Intercepting drugs intended for Texas neighborhoods is just one posi- expect to pay up to a $1,000 fine. tive by-product of our normal patrol activities,” said DPS Director Col. Be safe. Thomas A. Davis Jr. “Texas is a drug corridor, and DPS enforce- ment efforts put drug smugglers behind bars and take large amounts of narcotics out of circulation.”

DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Awards driving. Texas also took second Bureau and DPS field offices. place in the audio category of public All applicants are encouraged to David Clements of Bullzeye service announcements. read these instructions before com- Tank Service and Don Alexander of pleting an application for employ- Plains Marketing received Director’s Short Shots ment with DPS. Awards on June 19 for their assis- tance in helping CVE in ob- Dive Team seeks members Sick Leave Pool reminder tain a cargo tanker for use in training The DPS Dive Recovery Team The Sick Leave Pool continues exercises. Alexander, of Plains Mar- will conduct selection try-outs on to benefit employees of the Depart- keting, offered to donate a cargo Wednesday, Sept. 19. Any com- ment who have experienced the ad- tanker to CVE. Several companies missioned THP trooper, who is sta- versity of catastrophic illness or in- then were contacted to submit bids tioned in Travis County or within two jury and have exhausted all accrued to modify the tanker to fit the train- contiguous counties adjoining Travis entitlements. Employees are again ing program’s needs. Clements sub- County, is eligible to apply. Dive cer- asked to contribute to this worth- mitted a bid of $0.00 for all parts tification is not a prerequisite, as suc- while cause. and labor. The two were nominated cessful candidates will receive the Donations are accepted at any by Sgt. Glen Stafford for going appropriate training and certification. time and will be good for a period of “above and beyond the average citi- Those wishing to apply for con- one year from date of donation. Do- zen in assisting the Department in its sideration should submit a memoran- nations must be received before the efforts to improve the training pro- dum through their chain of command, discovery of the need for leave. gram relating to cargo tank/bulk forwarding the original directly to For additional information, refer packaging.” THP Maj. David G. Baker in the THP to the insert in your August pay Chief’s office. They must also no- packet or General Manual, Chapter Motorcycle Safety wins award tify Maj. Baker of their intent to ap- 7, Section 06.04. Also in the pay The Motorcycle Safety Founda- ply by Sept. 8, either in person or packet you will find an HR-36, Sick tion awarded the DPS Texas Mo- by calling 512-424-2115. Leave Pool donation form. If you torcycle Safety Unit, headed by wish to contribute, please send the Clifton Burdette, with the 2003 Applying for DPS jobs? completed form to the Human Re- MSF Outstanding State Program- The Human Resources Bureau sources Bureau, attention Sick Category III Award. The unit’s ser- has received several comments from Leave Pool Administrator, PO Box vice to current and prospective mo- DPS employees who have been 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0251. torcyclists, and participation and screened out as applicants because support of the foundation’s research they did not provide sufficient infor- Mile Markers laboratory were two of the reasons mation in their employment history Director’s Staff cited for giving the award. to meet the minimum qualifications William M. Diggs, Lt. HP Aus- for the job. tin-Capitol to Insp. II, Audit and Insp. The DPS “Instructions to the Trooper wins USEOW award Austin; David Charles Sandlin, Lt. Congratulations to Sr. Trooper Applicant” provide a detailed expla- HP Houston to Insp. II, Audit and Insp. Earl “Dub” Gillum, THP Granbury nation to applicants on how to com- Austin. for winning second place for his pre- plete the state application. These in- sentation entitled “THINK” at the structions are available on the DPS THP Uniformed Safety Education Offic- website (www.txdps.state.tx.us) in Michael Shawn Scullin, Lt. HP ers Workshop in Atlanta in June. the employment section and are in- Hurst to Capt., HP Waco; Michael “THINK” reminds motorists of the cluded with the state application Stephen Carlson, Sgt. CVE Corpus deadly consequences of drinking and available in the Human Resources Christi to Lt., CVE Lubbock; Paul DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] David Webb, CVE Huntsville to Lt., Odom, Tr. II HP Woodville to Sgt., Tr. II HP Austin-Northwest to Sgt., CVE Del Rio; Narcotics Houston; Narcotics Austin; Shanandoah Lyn Sharp, Sgt. Michael Anthony Moore, Tr. Jaeson Todd Jones, Tr. II HP HP Austin to Lt., HP Austin-Capitol; IV HP Austin to Sgt., Narcotics San Marcos to Sgt., Narcotics Casey Galen Goetz, Sgt. HP to Lt., Houston; Lucinda Jaye Russell, Tr. Brownsville; Mark Aaron Melson, HP Houston; Robert L. Smith, Tr. III Amarillo to Sgt., Narcotics Ama- Tr. II HP Caldwell to Sgt., Narcotics III HP Kountze to Sgt., HP Austin- rillo; Barry Gene Washington, Cpl. Brownsville; Jeffrey Alan Buuck, Capitol. V HP Carthage to Sgt., Narcotics Sgt. HP Huntsville to Sgt., MVTS El Houston; James Earl Rohrman Jr., Paso. DLD Tr. II HP Canton to Sgt., Narcotics Alvaro Ivan Adame, Sgt. Dal- Corpus Christi; Deaths las East to Lt., DL Waco; Diane Maurice Lamar Fisher, Tr. III The Jerry Burgtorf, ret. SES/DL Michelle Heselmeyer, Section Woodlands to Sgt., Narcotics Conroe; Examiner Amarillo (Dec. 1968 to June Supv. Accident Records Austin to Marquis M. Cantu, Tr. III HP Waco 1998), died June 20; Jerome Preiss, Asst. Mgr., Customer Svc. Austin. to Sgt., Narcotics Midland; Grady ret. Ranger, Co. D Harlingen (Aug. Allen Clark, Tr. II HP Marshall to 1948 to March 1972), died July 12; CLE Sgt., Narcotics Laredo; Lance Ray Kelli Cross, ret. Sr. PCO Lubbock Jorge Luis Aguilar, Sgt. Nar- Yager, Tr. II HP Terrell to Sgt., Nar- (Aug. 1982 to Nov. 2002), died July cotics to Lt., Narcotics cotics McAllen; 15; Glenn B. Krueger, ret. Ranger, San Antonio; David Gregory Michael D. Wylie, Tr. II Co. D Beeville (Dec. 1948 to Aug. Goodman, Sgt. Narcotics Sherman Decatur to Sgt., Narcotics Alpine; 1986), died July 17. to Lt., Narcotics Houston; Dean Kevin Bryan Franklin, Cpl. III HP Editor’s note: Retirements will Alan Fant, Cpl. III HP Lubbock to Coldspring to Sgt., Narcotics appear in the September Chapar- Sgt., Narcotics Amarillo; Kevin Ray McAllen; Kevin Hagen Callihan, ral.

DPS SWAT Team tryouts set for end of August; team assists agency Since its inception, the Texas After basic certification, team Tacquard or Sgt. Charles Palcer. Department of Public Safety SWAT members are further sent to special- For pre-planned execution of Team has been used in hundreds of ized training with some of the finest warrants, the team will usually arrive missions in all parts of Texas. SWAT law-enforcement and military instruc- at least a day prior and can assist in membership is made up of Highway tors worldwide. The team trains ev- raid planning or conducting neces- Patrol, Driver License, Special ery other week, with most training sary surveillance to insure opera- Crimes and Narcotics personnel. sessions lasting well over eight hours. tional safety. (The team’s personnel Any commissioned officer residing or Members are issued and re- and equipment are provided directly headquartered within two contiguous quired to carry a pager at all times by the THP chief’s budget at no ex- counties of Travis or Williamson and may be called upon to respond pense to local budgets.) counties is eligible for selection. to situations at any time. The DPS SWAT Team has Once selected, a probationary The team has provided assis- scheduled tryouts for August 24, 25 member will be sent to a Texas Tac- tance to various DPS divisions and and 26 to fill four vacancies. tical Peace Officer’s Association ac- services as well as outside law en- To request information about credited Basic SWAT School that forcement agencies. services and equipment available, or consists of rigorous physical and spe- The team can be called upon for for information regarding applying for cialized training and must be com- use by contacting DPS Austin Com- membership, contact Lt. Tacquard or pleted before full acceptance to the munications (512-997-4131), who Sgt. Palcer by phone at 512/997- team. will immediately notify Lt. Ronnie M. 4130 or by DPS e-mail. DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected] Competitive promotional examinations announced The competitive examinations for ducted at the Texas Department of Thursday, Oct. 13, 2004 the following positions will be con- Public Safety Criminal Law Enforce- , Commercial Ve- ducted at the Texas Department of ment Auditorium as follows: hicle Enforcement Public Safety Regional Headquarters Offices (Region 7 Examinations will be Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2004 at 8 a.m. The Oral Examining Board will con- conducted in the Reagan Building lo- Captain, Commercial Vehicle vene at the Texas Highway Patrol Di- cated at 105 West 15th Street, Austin, Enforcement vision Conference Room beginning at Texas. Region 8 Examinations will be Captain, Highway Patrol Service 1 p.m. as follows: The interview board conducted at the Hidalgo County starting times for these two boards may Sheriff’s Office, 715 East El Cibolo The Oral Examining Board will con- be adjusted due to schedule conflicts. Road, Edinburg, Texas) as follows: vene at the Texas Department of Pub- Candidates will be notified of any lic Safety Law Enforcement Promo- changes. Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 at 8 a.m. tional System Conference Room begin- Captain, Motor Vehicle Theft ning at 8 a.m. as follows: Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2004 Service Captain, Highway Patrol Divi- Lieutenant, Motor Vehicle Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004 sion Theft Service Sergeant, Aircraft Section Captain, Commercial Vehicle Sergeant, Highway Patrol Ser- Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 Enforcement vice Captain, Motor Vehicle Theft Sergeant, Driver License Divi- Monday, Sept. 27, 2004 The application form HR-106 sion Sergeant, Driver License Divi- should be submitted directly to the sion Human Resources Bureau. Applicants Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 must also submit a copy of form HR- Sergeant, Commercial Vehicle Sergeant, Commercial Vehicle 106 to their Service Commander Enforcement Enforcement through proper channels. Only those Sergeant, Aircraft Monday, Oct. 4, 2004 candidates who are qualified will be able Sergeant, Narcotics Service Lieutenant, Driver License Di- to compete in the written examinations. vision Applications should be addressed Thursday, Sept. 16, 2004 at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 to the Human Resources Bureau, MSC Lieutenant, Driver License Di- Sergeant, Highway Patrol 0251, Texas Department of Public vision Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 Safety, Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773, Sergeant, Motor Vehicle Theft Lieutenant, Highway Patrol Ser- faxed to 512-424-5627, or emailed Service vice through DPS email system to “Tracey Sergeant, Special Crimes Ser- Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2004 Carlile” and should be received no vice Sergeant, Special Crimes Ser- later than 5:00 P. M. on Friday, Sep- vice tember 3, 2004 for examinations The competitive examination for Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 conducted in September and Thurs- the following positions will be con- Sergeant, Motor Vehicle Theft day, October 7, 2004 for examina- ducted at the Texas Department of Service tions conducted in October. Public Safety Law Enforcement Acad- Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 Announcements are forthcoming emy as follows: Sergeant, Narcotics Service and will be placed in Outlook at Public Folders/All Public Folders/Law En- Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004 at 8 a.m. The Oral Examining Board will con- forcement Promotions. Application Lieutenant, Highway Patrol Ser- vene at the Texas Department of Pub- form HR-106 can be found in Outlook. vice lic Safety Human Resources Confer- Lieutenant, Commercial Ve- ence Room beginning at 9 a.m. as fol- hicle Enforcement lows: Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004 The competitive examination for Lieutenant, Motor Vehicle the following positions will be con- Theft Service DPS online: www.txdps.state.tx.us DPS “on the air”: 512-424-7777 [email protected]