TEXAS RANGERS Company ―A‖ - Houston 1823 – Austin Wrote That He Stephen F
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TEXAS RANGERS Company ―A‖ - Houston 1823 – Austin wrote that he Stephen F. Austin would ―…employ ten men…to act as rangers for the common defense…The wages I will give said ten men is fifteen dollars a month payable in property…‖ 1874 – the term ―Texas Ranger‖ first appeared in legislation. The Early Texas Rangers Colt Revolver Samuel Colt was a gun maker in New England who invented a five shot revolver. Captain John Coffee ―Jack‖ Hays and his men used the Colt revolver with deadly effect in defense of the Texas frontier. One of Hays’ men, Samuel Walker made some suggestions for improving the pistol. The new version came to be known as the Walker Colt. War with Mexico!! During the war with Mexico the Rangers fought with such ferocity, they came to be known as ―Los Diablos Tejanos‖ – The Texas Devils. The next decade following the Mexican War, the Rangers existed primarily as volunteer companies, raised when the need arose and disbanded when their work was done. The Civil War Thousands of Texans were off fighting with the Confederate Army. A “Regiment of Rangers” protected the frontier and eventually became a part of the Confederate Army. Captain W.J. (Bill) McDonald “No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s in the right and keeps on a-comin.” One Riot, One Ranger When sent to Dallas To that, to prevent a McDonald is scheduled prize- fight, McDonald said to have supposedly was replied, ―Heck greeted at the train ain’t I enough? station by the city’s There’s only one anxious mayor, who asked, ―Where are prize-fight!‖ the others?‖ TEXAS OUTLAWS Train Robbers Indians Bandits Bootleggers Bank Robbers Murderers Bandit Raids On several occasions, Mexican bandits raided into Texas. And at least twice, Rangers returned the favor, making punitive strikes into Mexico. In one battle in 1917, as many as 20 Mexicans may have been killed by Rangers who crossed to the south side of the river. Bonnie and Clyde Texas Highway Patrol Troopers killed by Bonnie and Clyde Wheeler Murphy Captain Frank H. Hamer In February, 1934, Lee Simmons, superintendent of the Texas prison system, asked Hamer if he would track down the notorious criminal couple Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Hamer trailed Bonnie and Clyde for 102 days. Hamer and other officers located Bonnie and Clyde in Louisiana. The officer hoped to take the outlaws alive but when the pair reached for their weapons, Hamer and the others opened fire. The careers of Bonnie and Clyde were over. 1934 - Arcadia, Louisiana The Beginning of DPS 1935 In 1935, the Texas With the creation of Legislature created the Texas Department the Texas of Public Safety, the Department of Texas Rangers had the Public Safety. The benefits of a state-of- the-art crime Texas Rangers and laboratory, improved Texas Highway communications, and Patrol were merged political stability. to form a single state police force. 1935 •Tom Hickman – a veteran Ranger was named Senior Captain of the Rangers. •The Rangers were organized into five companies, each headed by a captain. •Former Ranger Manuel T. (Lone Wolf) Gonzaullas headed the Department’s Bureau of Intelligence, which gave the Rangers the benefit of chemical, ballistic, and microscopic testing in their criminal investigations. In the early years as a part of DPS, Rangers were paid automobile mileage and furnished a Colt .45 and a lever-action Winchester .30 caliber rifle by the state. Rangers still had to provide their own car, horse and saddle, though DPS issued horse trailers. 1950’s --Rangers add to their legend— Inmates at the Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane rioted and took hostages, Ranger Captain R.A. ―Bob‖ Crowder and the leader of the mob had a conversation and the inmates surrendered. Rangers made national headlines by their quiet but firm presence at various campuses in the state as school integration was for the most part peacefully implemented. Rangers calmed down a violent steel mill strike in East Texas; shut down illegal gambling in Galveston and participated in numerous cases, some sensational, many merely routine investigation. ―A Ranger is an officer who is able to handle any given situation without definite instructions from his commanding officer or higher authority. This ability must be proven before a man becomes a Ranger.‖ Captain Bob Crowder TODAY’S TEXAS RANGERS TEXAS RANGER DIVISION 150 Texas Rangers 2 Forensic Artists 2 Financial Analysts 62 Support Staff Drawn by: Forensic Artist Suzanne Lowe Specialized Units Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) Regional Special Response Teams (SRT) Ranger Reconnaissance Team Crisis Negotiations Unit BORDER VIDEOS Specialized Programs Unsolved Crimes Investigative Program Public Corruption Unit Ranger Companies 254 Counties – 150 Texas Rangers Company “A” – Houston Company “B” – Garland Company “C” – Lubbock Company “D” – McAllen Company “E” – El Paso Company “F” – San Antonio Company “A” - Houston Thirty-five counties bounded to the east by the State of Louisiana; to the south by the Texas Gulf Coast; to the On August 5, 1823, near north and west by the small town of San Company “B” and Felipe, located in Austin Company “F”. County, the first ten rangers were employed by Stephen F. Austin to protect the settlers. Equipment Each Ranger is furnished: • a Sig Saur .357 pistol • a Bushmaster AR-15 • a LaRue Tactical .308 rifle • a crime scene kit • a Nikon camera • a laptop computer • an automobile Rangers travel by car, airplane or helicopter and occasionally by horse. Rangers are not issued uniforms. Rangers are expected to wear western boots, cowboy hats and have their badges pinned to their shirts. TRAINING Today’s Texas Rangers receive extensive training in a variety of subjects such as, Crime Scene Investigation, Interview and Interrogation techniques, Statement Analysis, DNA Collection, Forensic Hypnosis, Tactical Tracking, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and numerous other specializations. Crime Scene Investigation Becoming a Texas Ranger Texas Rangers are selected from the ranks of DPS. To become a Ranger, a DPS officer must have at least eight years of commissioned law enforcement experience (including 4 years with DPS). Ranger appointments are made up on the basis of a competitive examination and oral interviews. Ranger Responsibilities The activities of the Texas Ranger Division consist primarily of conducting criminal and special investigations, apprehending wanted felons, suppressing major disturbances, protection of life and property, and rendering assistance to local law enforcement officials in suppressing crime and violence. Investigations include: Murder, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, theft, fraud, misuse of criminal history information, misconduct and corruption of public officials, threats against the governor, missing persons, parental abductions, questionable deaths and unidentified bodies. Investigations 2011 Statistics 1. 3,839 investigations 4. Rangers recovered stolen resulted in: property valued at • 1,501 felony arrests $1,012,320 and seized contraband valued at • 153 misdemeanor arrests $82,688. 2. 4,274 statements taken 5. 1,787 convictions resulting resulting in: in: • 677 confessions to various • 1 death sentence crimes. • 80 life sentences 3. 12 Hypnosis sessions were • conducted 9,306 years in the penitentiary time assessed …the legend lives on! QUESTIONS? Texas Rangers Company “A” – Houston 281-517-1400 Ranger Wende Wakeman 1 Criminal Justice Drive Conroe, Texas 77301 (936)538-3700.