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July 17, 2009
McCraw named DPS director
Steve McCraw, a former top FBI official who has been Gov. Rick Perry’s homeland security chief for nearly five years, this afternoon was appointed director of the embattled Texas Department of Public Safety.
McCraw, 55, was selected from among three finalists by the Texas Public Safety Commission after a closed-door afternoon meeting.
Commission Chairman Allan Polunsky of San Antonio characterized McCraw, who gained statewide note as director of Perry’s division of emergency management in the aftermath of several hurricanes, as “without question a unique person who brings a tremendous amount of abilities and expertise to this position.”
“Steve stood above” the other two finalists for the $157,500-a-year post as head of Texas’ statewide law enforcement agency, Polunsky said. “He will build on the traditions and history … and will take it forward to a level we expect for the State of Texas.”
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April 17, 2007
Dewhurst: Give colleges access to resources of Texas School Safety Center
The day after the Virginia Tech shooting, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is calling for Texas’ state universities, community colleges and junior colleges to review their campus security procedures.
He said he’d like these institutions to have access to the safety plans and training resources at the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University in San Marcos.
To authorize that access, Dewhurst has asked that an amendment be drafted to Senate Bill 11, a homeland security bill that he said could reach the Senate floor tomorrow.
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February 8, 2007
DPS: Real ID cost $268 million
Texas Department of Public Safety officials now estimate the cost of implementing the feds’ controversial REAL ID Act will be a whopping $268 million.
DPS Director Tommy Davis delivered the bad news yesterday to a surprised House Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
Details: More than 700 new full-time employees over five years.
The new tally is much higher than the earlier $13 million estimate to implement the changes mandated by Congress in how states issue the drivers licenses. The feds are not giving states any money to make the necessary changes, and several states have bucked up at the cost.
The Legislative Budget Board earlier estimated the cost to all states at $11 billion.
If states don’t comply with the new rules, the feds have promised to stop honoring their drivers licenses as ID at airports and other places.
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