Texas Department of Public Safety:

An Inventory of Department of Public Safety Training Academy In-Service and Recertification Training Records at the Texas State Archives, 1942-1950, 1957-1970, 1994-1998, bulk 1994-1998

Agency History

The Training Academy within the Texas Department of Public Safety, Administrative Division, Staff Support Services Unit, Training Bureau provides basic, intermediate, and advanced training and education for the state's law enforcement officers according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) mandated curriculums, and also operates civilian training programs including administrative training for Department of Public Safety employees. Recruit trainees are prepared for service as troopers in the Highway Patrol and Driver License Divisions; experienced troopers may be promoted to the Criminal Law Enforcement Division, the Texas Ranger Division, and the Administrative Division.

In 1935, the Texas 44th Legislature (Senate Bill 146, Regular Session), responding to recommendations made in 1933 by the Joint Legislative Committee on Organization and Economy, created the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the purpose of placing under a single jurisdiction the state's functions in crime prevention and traffic control programs. The original Department was composed of the Texas Rangers, removed from the Adjutant General's Department; the State Highway Patrol, taken from the State Highway Department; and the Headquarters Division, composed of the Bureau of Identification and Records, the Bureau of Intelligence, the Bureau of Communications, the Bureau of Education, and various administrative and service units.

DPS training operations were originally under the control of its Bureau of Education and led by the Assistant Director of DPS (though the 1937 Legislature mandated that the Chief be appointed by the Director (House Bill 774, 45th Legislature, Regular Session)). The Bureau was to organize training facilities and teach schools for the members of the Department and for other peace officers, and to instruct them in the duties and functions of the Department. The Bureau was also to teach selected county and municipal peace officers and to educate citizens in matters of public safety and crime prevention and detection. The Adjutant General was to provide the buildings, land, and equipment in Camp Mabry. The University of Texas was to assist in the organization and instruction of classes as needed. In spite of its nominal placement under the Headquarters Division, legislative appropriation bills listed the Bureau under the Highway Patrol for many years. By 1996 this bureau seems to have been incorporated into Staff Support Service under the Administrative Division.

Recruit training schools were held at Camp Mabry from 1930 through 1955, when recruit training operations were moved to the newly completed Law Enforcement Academy at the DPS Headquarters Complex in North Austin. The training course originally lasted seven weeks and was run as a semi-military organization, with drills and permits required for leave. The first class graduated 49 highway patrolmen. One of the students in the first recruit training school, and the commanding officer of the second through sixth recruit schools was Lieutenant Homer Garrison, Jr., who became the first Assistant Director of DPS when it was organized in 1935, and soon after served as its Director (and chief of the Texas Rangers) from 1938 to 1968, with the rank of Colonel. The Law Enforcement Academy was renamed as the Homer Garrison, Jr. Law Enforcement Academy in 1973. The Academy comprises classrooms, a library, auditorium, dormitory rooms, cafeteria, gymnasium, both an indoor and outdoor firing range, and staff and conference space. In 1948, DPS instituted a program of conducting extension schools and courses for local officers in their own communities.

The main purpose of in-service training is to update, recertify, and introduce new information, tactics, and techniques that will help the Department's law enforcement officers better serve the public. At least 40 hours of in-service training are required for all Texas peace officers every two years. Various training committees set up the in-service curriculum. An Academy representative serves as the in-service coordinator. The committees frequently meet to determine the training needs. TCLEOSE also researches the training needs of the law enforcement community. The Training Academy staff stays informed of current needs so the committees can implement in-service training to satisfy the requirements.

As in-service coordinators, Academy personnel arrange schedules, obtain instructors, and make arrangements for each class. They monitor all in-service schools in progress and handle any problems that might arise. The staff also evaluates class critiques on a weekly basis and reports to the specific training committees. The Academy also is responsible for ensuring the in-service training records are accurate and reported to TCLEOSE.

The Department not only provides continuing in-service training for its own officers and civilian employees, but also provides a specialized school program for full-time employees of state, county, or city agencies that perform law enforcement duties. These schools offer comprehensive programs specializing in all aspects of law enforcement, ranging from fingerprinting to underwater physical evidence recovery. Another important aspect of the Academy's multifaceted education base is its broad firearms training program. Ammunition and firearms are evaluated so that law enforcement officers are provided with the best equipment and training available. The firearm staff continually evaluates new ammunition and firearms training programs. Training techniques are developed by closely monitoring training trends and needs.

By 2006, the Academy had a training staff of 15 commissioned officers, nine sergeants, four lieutenants, and one captain led by the Commander of the Academy. Clerical support was provided by nine secretaries, two clerical supervisors, an assistant clerical supervisor, two receptionists, and a supply specialist.

(Sources: DPS Staff Support Service web page, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/#staffsupport; DPS Training Academy web page, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/trainingacademy/Police_Training/overview.htm, both accessed July 13, 2006; and the records themselves.)

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Scope and Contents of the Records

The Training Academy within the Texas Department of Public Safety, Administrative Division, Staff Support Services Unit, Training Bureau provides basic, intermediate, and advanced training and education for the state's law enforcement officers according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) mandated curriculums, and also operates civilian training programs including administrative training for Department of Public Safety employees. Training records document classes, typically lasting from one day to a week with in-service courses sometimes lasting longer, offered by DPS as continuing education to provide recertification and mandatory in-service training for Texas peace officers, other Texas state agencies with a law enforcement or investigatory arm, and several groups of foreign police officers. Types of records include correspondence, memoranda, reports, instructional manuals, rosters, grades, evaluations, logs, photographs, minutes, sound recordings, publications, and other class records, dating 1942-1950, 1957-1970, 1994-1998, bulk 1994-1998.

Subjects of the short courses include fingerprint analysis, homicide investigation, narcotics, criminal investigations, firearms, accident response, Capitol security, issues regarding traffic and driving, criminal databases, personal and public safety, techniques of group instruction, administration, human resources-related topics, and personal and professional development. Manuals containing readings, instructional materials, sample forms, and occasional course information have been preserved for some classes and conferences. Course records are often accompanied by a binder containing the class manual, and also by an envelope of student critiques of the course. Some courses are led by outside consultant companies, such as Anacapa Sciences, Inc., which offers training in analytical techniques. The class photographs, 1944-1967, of the course participants are black and white, approximately 8 x 10 inches. Some photographs are accompanied by identifications of individuals, but, in all cases, are found with the rosters of the class and, usually, rosters of the instructors. Additional photographs of class participants may be found in Texas Department of Public Safety, Photographs, 1937-1959, undated, 16 cubic ft. Two sets of green 7-inch plastic/vinyl recording discs may contain a sound recording of a conference; archives staff have not reviewed the green recording discs to verify their content. This record series does not include materials from all courses taught during this time period. One file of minutes and correspondence concerns the establishment of the training program.

This finding aid describes Texas Department of Public Safety Training Academy in-service and recertification training records dating 1942-1950, 1957-1970, 1994-1998, bulk 1994-1998. For DPS in-service and recertification training records dating after 1998, see Texas Department of Public Safety Training Academy in-service and recertification training records, 1999.

An additional series of DPS Training Academy records is described by the finding aid Texas Department of Safety Training Academy recruit training records, 1930-1931, 1935-1999, bulk 1980-1999.

This series was removed from the overall DPS finding aid due to the electronic file size limitations imposed by the online finding aid web site (TARO). If you are reading this electronically, click on the following link to access the overall finding aid, Texas Department of Public Safety records. If you are reading this in paper in the Archives search room, the finding aid, Texas Department of Public Safety records, is found in the first divider within the same binder.

To prepare this preliminary inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under the Public Information Act exceptions including, but not limited to, certain addresses, telephone numbers, and personal family information (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Section 552.117 or Section 552.1175); and violations of the privacy of individuals, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, P. O. Box 12927, Austin, TX 78711), fax (512-463-5436), email (Dir_Lib@tsl.state.tx.us), or see our web page ( http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/customer/pia.html). Include enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information. If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the records.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.

To listen to the sound recordings please contact the Archives' Preservation Officer. Please note that the 7-inch flexible discs are thinner than normal vinyl phonograph records, and may require equipment that the Texas State Archives cannot access.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Texas Department of Public Safety Training Academy in-service and recertification training records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 2000/080, 2005/128

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Department of Public Safety on December 12, 1999 and February 25, 2005.

Processing Information

Nancy Enneking, January 2000

Rebecca Romanchuk, July 2006

Appraisal Information

Please ask an archivist to obtain access to the appraisal report. Records dating 1942-1970 were given a rough appraisal and heavily weeded to remove and preserve archival materials.

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Detailed Description of the Records