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.
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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
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