Actions

Department of Public Safety (TX)

From The RadioReference Wiki

(Redirected from Department of Public Safety (DPS))

Texas Department of Public Safety

The Texas Department of Public Safety (otherwise known as DPS), is a state law enforcement agency responsible for "enforcing laws, administering regulatory programs, managing records, educating the public, and managing emergencies, both directly and through interaction with other agencies."

Texas DPS is divided into 6 Regions, with multiple Communications Centers for each region. The regional headquarters are in:

  • Dallas (Reg. 1)
  • Houston (Reg. 2)
  • Weslaco (Reg. 3)
  • El Paso (Reg. 4)
  • Lubbock (Reg. 5)
  • San Antonio (Reg. 6)
  • State Capitol (Rgn. 7)
  • Austin (State Headquarters)

According to a press release dated 10/21/2010, the DPS will close communications centers in Sherman, Texas City, Beaumont, Ozona, San Angelo, Childress and Harlingen.

Within the past few years DPS has migrated all of its radio systems to a conventional P25 digital protocol, which is capable of linking any Comm Center in the state to any other by VoIP, essentially giving any trooper the ability to talk to any other, statewide. DPS also has networked 5 facilities into the Harris County Regional Radio System (Texas SCIP p. 28) and two facilities into the City of Austin/Travis County Regional Radio System (Texas SCIP p. 28).

The SCIP has stated, on page 28, that DPS "will migrate toward a statewide hybrid trunked radio system utilizing 700MHz where feasible," accessible by all state agencies. The THP Strategic Outlook from the DPS website, also shows that this is the current plan, on page 44.

 DPS uses linked repeaters and base stations at many Comm Centers. When dispatchers 
transmit, they may be broadcasting over many linked sites at once, while the
trooper is only being broadcasted on their local site. This limits a receiver to hear
only the dispatch side of conversations at times. DPS also uses half-duplex on their
base stations at times. In this case, the trooper will broadcast on a "Mobile to
Base" frequency, while dispatch listens on this frequency. To respond dispatch
transmits on a "Base to Mobile" frequency, while the trooper listens on that same
frequency. This may also cause a receiver to only hear the dispatch side, since
usually the dispatcher is broadcasting from a tall tower, relative to the trooper
broadcasting from ground level. Reports have indicated that in the future more
Base outputs will be rebroadcasting the "Mobile to Base" side of the conversation
which has been noted on San Antonio's Base B1 recently. See below for a "working"
list of linked sites.

On 1 November 2018, DPS began using a new alphanumeric unit numbering system.

Divisions

The Department of Public Safety is comprised of 8 Divisions:

  • Administration
  • Criminal Law Enforcement
  • Director's Staff
  • Texas Division of Emergency Management
  • Driver License
  • Public Safety Commission
  • Texas Highway Patrol
    • Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
    • Communications
  • Texas Rangers

Criminal Law Enforcement


Texas DPS Criminal Law Enforcement Seal

The CLE division consists of 1,239 personnel, including 625 commissioned officers and 614 support personnel.CLE is split into 5 units:

  • Criminal Intelligence Service
  • Motor Vehicle Theft Service
  • Narcotics Service
  • Bureau of Information Analysis
  • Crime Laboratory Service

The CLE Chief also oversees the DPS SWAT team which is comprised of 20 commissioned officers from all DPS services.

Texas DPS SWAT

Texas Division of Emergency Management


Texas Division of Emergency Management Homepage
Texas Division of Emergency Management

The Division of Emergency Management is the statewide commssion responsible for disaster preparedness. They report directly to the Governor of the State of Texas. They are the state agency responsible for coordinating the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and homeland security preparedness drills.

The DEM has split the state into disaster districts and sub-districts. That map is available here.

Texas Highway Patrol

Otherwise known as "troopers" or "THP," the Highway Patrol is the most visible division of DPS, tasked with enforcing traffic laws on Texas highways.


Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE)

The CVE Unit of THP is the enforcement unit of commercial vehicle traffic, ensuring all weight/size regulations are followed, ensuring compliance with the Motor Carrier Safety Act. They also ensure hazardous material placarding regulations are followed, as well as commercial vehicle registration enforcement. There are 41 CVE Offices throughout the state, including 2 at El Paso's Bridge of the America's POE and the Ysleta POE.

Communications and DPS Unit Numbers

There are 32 Communications facilities throughout the state as well as one mobile unit, the Communications Emergency Operations Team, which is supported by Command One, a 30 ft. mobile communications trailer. See the linked press release above, for a list of Comm Centers that will be closing, reducing the number down to 22.

Texas DPS Unit Numbers

Highway Patrol Units begin with the region number, then the letter denoting the district, then 3 or 4 numbers after that.

For example, 2A604 would be a Highway Patrol unit from Region 2 (Houston) District A (Houston), then the remaining numbers denote the individual unit. Units that end in 00 (for example 2A600) appear to be sergeants.

Three digit numbers appear to be lieutenants, captains, majors.

DPS Aircraft are three digit numbers beginning with 1, the last number denotes the region. For example, 102 and 112 are helicopters based in Region 2, Houston.

Detectives, (CID and Rangers), are identified by a four digit number beginning with an 8. The second number denotes the region, and the third and fourth numbers identify the individual unit. For example, 8738 would be a detective (probably CID) working out of region 7-Capitol Police

Four digit numbers beginning with a 9 are communications technicians (for example 9162).

Texas Rangers


Texas Ranger Crest

The Rangers are famed as the oldest law enforcement agency in the country with statewide jurisdiction. Currently, there are 144 commissioned officers, by state congressional act, and they are split into 7 troops "A-G."

Recently there have been signs that the Rangers are reorganizing and downsizing to 6 troops.




Maps


Click on the desired image to enlarge

Ten Codes

DPS Ten Codes
Code Description Code Description
10-1 Signal Weak 10-42 Ending Tour Of Duty
10-2 Signal Good 10-43 Request Criminal History
10-3 Stop Transmitting 10-44 Permitted to Carry a Handgun
10-4 Affirmative (OK) 10-45 Operating Authority
10-5 Relay To _____ 10-46 Motorist Assist
10-6 Busy 10-47 Abandoned Vehicle
10-7 Out Of Service 10-48 Road Hazard
10-8 In Service 10-49 Impoundment List
10-9 Say Again (Repeat) 10-50 Traffic Accident (Specify Type)
10-10 Negative 10-51 Wrecker
10-11 _____ On Duty 10-52 Ambulance
10-12 Stand By (Stop) 10-54 Livestock in roadway
10-13 Existing Conditions-Road/Weather 10-55 Intoxicated Motorist
10-14 Message / Information 10-56 Intoxicated Pedestrian
10-15 Message Delivered 10-59 Escort
10-16 Reply To Message 10-60 Unit in Vicinity
10-17 En Route (To) 10-66 Reserved
10-18 Urgent 10-70 Assisting Unit
10-19 (In) Contact 10-71 Officer Needs Assistance
10-20 Location 10-72 Check Welfare/Safety Of Officer (Unit) _____ At ______ Location
10-21 Call _____ By Phone 10-73 Advise Status / OK?
10-22 Disregard 10-74 Road Block
10-23 Arrived At Scene 10-75 Deployment of Stinger Spikes
10-24 Assignment Completed 10-77 Registered Sex Offender
10-25 Report To (Meet) 10-79 Request Justice of Peace/Coroner
10-26 Estimated Time Of Arrival 10-80 In Pursuit
10-27 License / Permit Information 10-81 Breathalyzer Assistance Needed
10-28 Ownership Information 10-85 Building/Office Access Requested
10-29 Records Check (Wanted) 10-86 Officer/Operator On Duty
10-30 Danger / Caution 10-89 Bomb Threat
10-31 Pick Up 10-90 Alarm-Fire/Security (Specify)
10-32 Man with a gun 10-91 Prisoner Transfer
10-33 Help (Emergency) 10-92 Suspicious Activity
10-34 Correct Time 10-93 Disturbance
10-35 Crime in Progress 10-94 Secure Radio for Confidential Traffic
10-36 Reserved 10-95 Prisoner/Subject In Custody
10-37 Reserved 10-96 Mental Subject
10-38 Vehicle (Traffic) Stop 10-97 Known Offender
10-39 Permit/Oversize/Overwidth Check 10-98 Criminal History Indicated
10-40 Subject Detained, Expedite 10-99 Wanted/Stolen Indicated
10-41 Beginning Tour Of Duty


Unidentified/Unconfirmed Frequencies

The following are not listed in the database. If you can confirm any of them please submit the information and remove them from this list.

Frequency/Input Type Tone/NAC - Description
155.4450 M 162 NAC - Mobile 1? (talkaround)
155.4600 M 162 NAC - Mobile 2? (talkaround)
159.2175 M 162 NAC - Mobile 3? (talkaround)
156.2100 M ? - CVE? (had 162.2 PL before digital)
158.9100 M ? - CLE? (had 162.2 PL before digital)
154.9125 M ? - unknown use
154.9575 M ? - unknown use
158.9175 M ? - unknown use
159.0750 M 162 NAC - CLE Tactical?
159.2100/154.6650 RM 162 NAC - Repeater A?
159.2175/154.6725 RM 162 NAC - Repeater B?
155.5125/154.8450 RM ? NAC - Angleton rpt (Brazoria Co.) (Frequency changed 07/2016. Was 155.6850/154.8450)
155.5125/154.9275? RM ? NAC - Ballinger repeater (Runnels County)
159.2175/154.6725 RM ? NAC - Coleman repeater (Coleman County)
155.4600/154.6800 RM ? NAC - Texas City repeater (Galveston County)
159.2175/154.6725 RM ? NAC - Alpine/Elephant Mtn repeater (Brewster County)



The following are listed on the 700MHz Texas Final Showing attachment (Jan, 2020) for 700 MHz State License WPTZ776.

769.21875 DPS Austin Capitol
769.45625 DPS Austin Capitol
769.68125 DPS Austin Capitol
769.91875 DPS Austin Capitol
770.40625 DPS Austin Capitol
769.21875 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
769.65625 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
769.71875 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
769.96875 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
770.21875 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
770.71875 DPS Border Ops Reserved - Statewide
769.18125 DPS SWAT (Maintenance) Statewide
774.81875 DPS SWAT (Maintenance) Statewide

Statewide FCC Licenses

HF Temporary Base, Mobile

VHF Temporary Base, Temporary Repeater, Mobile

VHF LoJack

UHF Surveillance Robot

700 MHz State License

4.9 GHz Temporary Fixed, Mobile

Microwave Temporary Mobile

Interoperability

See Texas Common/Shared (TX)

Old Channel Plans

Low Band

  • The VHF low band system was used from 1950 to the late 1970s.
  • It is not known if all radios had 42.84 and 42.88 or what they were used for. Please correct this if you know.
  • In some areas 154.6650, 156.2100, 159.1500, 159.0900 and 159.2100 were used for point-to-point links to 42.9000/42.7400 remote sites.
Frequency Input Type Tone Channel Description Mode
42.9000 42.7400 BM CSQ CH A Dispatch FM
42.9000 M CSQ CH B Talkaround FM
42.8400 BM CH C? Unknown use FM
42.8800 M CH D? Unknown use FM

High Band

  • Around 1975 to 1978 the DPS switched to VHF high band. This is the original channel plan.
  • In some areas 154.6650, 156.2100, 159.1500, 159.0900 and 159.2100 were used for point-to-point links to 155.4600/154.6800 remote sites.
Frequency Input Type Tone Channel Description Mode
155.4600 154.6800 BM 162.2 PL CH 1 Primary A dispatch FM
155.4600 M 162.2 PL CH 2 Talkaround FM
154.9500 M CSQ CH 3 Intercity mobile FM
155.3700 154.9500 BM CSQ CH 4 Intercity base FM
155.5050 M 162.2 PL CH 5 CLE talkaround FM
155.5050 154.9200 RM 162.2 PL CH 6 CLE repeater FM
155.4450 M 162.2 PL CH 7 Talkaround FM
155.4450 154.6950 BM 162.2 PL CH 8 Primary B dispatch FM
  • In the late 1980s-1990s the original 8 channel GE mobile radios were replaced. The new radios had channel capacity for more DPS repeater channels (below) and local county channels.
  • Some additional DPS repeaters numbered 20-32 were used in certain areas.
Frequency Input Type Tone Channel Description Mode
159.2100 M 162.2 PL CH 9 Talkaround FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 162.2 PL CH 10 Repeater 10 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 107.2 PL CH 11 Repeater 11 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 110.9 PL CH 12 Repeater 12 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 118.8 PL CH 13 Repeater 13 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 123.0 PL CH 14 Repeater 14 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 127.3 PL CH 15 Repeater 15 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 136.5 PL CH 16 Repeater 16 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 141.3 PL CH 17 Repeater 17 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 146.2 PL CH 18 Repeater 18 FM
159.2100 154.6650 RM 151.4 PL CH 19 Repeater 19 FM

Linked Sites

  • Notice that these links are subject to change (reducing or expanding the number) at any time, and is handled at the Communication Center.

Region 1

Communications Center Site Location
Sulphur Springs Base B Sulphur Springs
Rptr 10 Greenville
Rptr 19 Paris
Texarkana Base C Texarkana
Rptr 14 Marshall
Tyler Base A Tyler
Rptr 01 Canton
Mineral Wells Base A Whitt (main)
Base A Mineral Wells (backup - seldom used)
Rptr 13 Aledo
Rptr 16 Glen Rose

Region 2

Communications Center Site Location
Conroe Base C Conroe
Rptr 18 Huntsville
Houston Base B Houston
Rptr 01 Huffman
Texas City Rptr 20 Texas City
Rptr 19 Santa Fe

Region 5

Communications Center Site Location
Wichita Falls Base B Wichita Falls (backup)
Base B Windthorst (main)
Rptr 09 Throckmorton
Rptr 20 Decatur
Rptr 03 Tolbert (Vernon)

Region 6

Communications Center Site Location
San Antonio Base C San Antonio
Rptr 13 D'Hanis
Base A Kerrville
Rptr 20 New Braunfels
Rptr 15 Stonewall

Related Links



Return to DB page: Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Return to Wiki Page: Texas (US)