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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 1978)
THE BATTALION FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978 Page 3 Number of law enforcers reflects need of services |“No man in the wrong can stand against a man in the right who jeps on a-comin’.” — Bill tlcDonald, a legendary Texas Hanger. By FRANK K. VASOVSKI The members of Texas law lenforcement agencies “keep on [comin” at a steady pace, and have since their inception. In 1823, Stephen F. Austin em- ijoyed at his own expense a small Jrce of mounted guards to protect his colony against Indians and auders. The strength of these “range rid- i ” increased to 60 men on Oct. 17, i35, on order of the Permanent mncil of Texas Revolution, estab lishing the Ranger force as an agency of the young republic. Further expansion brought the Istrength of the force to three com- During that time a phrase yvas born that “One riot — one Ranger” ratio was adequate to keep order in a |rioting community. niesof56 Rangers each. This was datively small number to insure safety of a territory as large as xas. During that time a phrase born that “One riot- one nger” ratio was adequate to keep ler in a rioting community. 3n Aug. 10, 1935, with the crea- n of the Texas Department of blic Safety (TDPS), Texas Ran- rs, who until then served under utant general of the U.S. Army med the nucleus of the new de- •tment. The rapid growth of the organiza- n from 147 men in 1935, to 2,170 ifbrmed personnel in 1977, shows k need for its existence. It repre- Sits the Traffic Law Enforcement :0 ®' iivision of the TDPS. Total em- iiyment, including superivsory nd support personnel, is over “loo. phe legislative appropriation of San $455,346 in 1935-1936 fiscal year rose to $79,227,353 in 1977. “Some residents in this area are not familiar with our respon sibilities,” said Sam M. Saxon, a communications supervising operator with the TDPS unit in Bryan. Each operating location is oriented toward three major areas of interest: traffic law enforcement, criminal law enforcement, and dis aster emergency services. “The State ofTexas is divided into six operational regions, each of them further divided into two districts, A and B,” Saxon said. Brazos County, together with 22 counties, belongs to District 6-B in Austin. The Bryan unit, in addition to highway patrol personnel, includes a member of the narcotics service, a Ranger, a communications section, a driver license service and a motor vehicle inspection service. Saxon explained that the com munications unit in Bryan maintains an uninterrupted liaison with other units of the TDPS located within a 75-mile radius. The same network is used to transmit emergency mes sages alerting the local population in case of man-made or natural disas ters. Bob Connell, a Texas Ranger as signed to the Bryan unit, is one of the 94 Rangers on duty in Texas. “It is fairly correct to compare our duties for the State ofTexas with the mission of the Federal Bureau of In vestigations on behalf of the federal government,” Connell said. The Rangers cooperate closely with the criminal intelligence serv ice, narcotics service and motor ve hicle theft branch of the criminal law enforcement division of the TDPS. “Our primary responsibility is to conduct investigations of major felony offenses such as murder, burglary and robbery,” Connell said. Connell reports his activities to a Ranger captain in Waco, who in turn is responsible to a senior cap- ! The statistical data contained in the following tables are indic ative of the need for more courtrooms. THE ANNUAL SUMMARY OF THE 85TH DISTRICT COURT FOR THE YEAR 1977 leases on hand Criminal Civil Juvenile r an. 1, 1977 302 1093 ■28 ^o. of cases added 321 967 9 'Jo. of cases disposed ZJases on hand 294 938 36 lec. 31, 1977 329 1122 1 Two randomly selected tabulations, one of civil and the other of tain in Austin. The latter reports to the chief of the criminal law enforcement division of the TDPS. The expansion of the force is rela tively slow. The number of Rangers increased from 56 members in 1956 to the current 94. Texas Rangers are on duty at all times, Connell said. The main function of the Sheriffs “Our primary responsibil ity is to conduct investiga tions of major felony offenses such as murder, burglary and robbery.” Department in Brazos County is the support of the 85th District Court and the County Court of Law. In addition to county sheriff, there are five criminal and three civil deputies, one matron, one re serve deputy sheriff, five jailers and one secretary. All are on the county payroll. “The main function of deputies is to serve subpoenas, to execute court orders, to escort prisoners and to perform functions in support of the courts,” said Cecile Howard, a re serve deputy sheriff and chief clerk. The sheriffs personnel work in close cooperation with the precinct commissioners to insure prompt re sponse to emergency situations, Howard explained. All deputies are in constant radio contact with the Sheriffs Department and are avail able for duty at all times. Deputy Sheriff Adams, a Texas A&M University graduate, finds his job with Sheriffs Department com pletely compatible with his profes sional preference. There are seven justice of the peace positions within the Brazos County area: one rural, one in Bryan, two in College Station, and three currently vacant. They rely on the support of four elected consta bles, each in charge of a county pre cinct comparable in area to a com- missioner s precinct. Together they form the “People’s Court,” as the justice of the peace courts are often called. Justice Dewey presides over the Small Claims Court for settlement of cases involving claims of less than $150.00. In a dispute over wages the limit is $200.00. Additionally, he tries traffic cases with maximum fines of $200, for which no jail sentence may be as sessed. Both types of trials can be presided over by the justice of the peace alone. At the option of either party to the dispute they can be tried by jury. “In all instances defendants have the right to appeal their case to the county court at law,” Justice Dewey said. The records of the 85th District Court and the County Court of Law of Brazos County show an urgent need for additional court facilities. All statistical data pertaining to both courts indicate a considerable rise in the number of backlog cases. District Clerk Burley said he feels that the rapid growth in the popula tion of the county more than amply justifies the need for additional courts, contingent on the voters’ approval. the music booth 3202 TEXAS AVE. 779-3988 Guitars • Amplifiers • Banjos • Fiddles • Song Books • Strings & Accessories • GIBSON • MUSIC MAN • ASPEN • SUNN • HONDO • HOHNER • TAKAMINE — 1977's LARGEST SELLING GUITAR THE FIRST ANNUAL OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT PARTY Saturday, April 29 8-12 p.m. Quonset Hut #2 Tickets $1.00 Beverages donated by LOUPOT’S riminal character, are shown in the following table: EXCERPT FROM THE ANNUAL SUMMARY OF THE COUNTY COURT OF LAW BRAZOS COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1977 Civil Docket Criminal Docket Auto damages marijuana Personal injury ases on hand (an. 1, 1977 of cases added No. of ases disposed Dec. 31, 1977 126 23 71 78 ““W Four Corners 22 139 98 63 Gifts for that special graduate — agate bookends and pen holders Aggie picture frames Mobiles & molas from Panama Boxes from Poland Tues.-Sat. - 9:30-5:30 Village Green Office 4343 Carter Creek Pkwy. 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