TEXAS RANGERS - The Woodlands Township, TX

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TEXAS RANGERS Company ―A‖ - Houston

Transcript of TEXAS RANGERS - The Woodlands Township, TX

TEXAS RANGERSCompany ―A‖ - Houston

Stephen F. Austin1823 – Austin wrote that he

would ―…employ ten

men…to act as rangers for

the common defense…The

wages I will give said ten

men is fifteen dollars a

month payable in

property…‖

1874 – the term ―Texas

Ranger‖ first appeared in

legislation.

The Early Texas Rangers

Colt Revolver

Samuel Colt was a gun maker in New England who

invented a five shot revolver.

Captain John Coffee ―Jack‖ Hays and his men used

the Colt revolver with deadly effect in defense of

the Texas frontier.

One of Hays’ men, Samuel Walker made some

suggestions for improving the pistol. The new

version came to be known as the Walker Colt.

War with Mexico!!

During the war with Mexico the Rangers

fought with such ferocity, they came to be

known as ―Los Diablos Tejanos‖ – The

Texas Devils.

The next decade following the Mexican War,

the Rangers existed primarily as volunteer

companies, raised when the need arose and

disbanded when their work was done.

The Civil War

Thousands of Texans

were off fighting

with the

Confederate Army.

A “Regiment of

Rangers” protected

the frontier and

eventually became

a part of the

Confederate Army.

Captain W.J. (Bill) McDonald

“No man in the

wrong can

stand up

against a fellow

that’s in the

right and keeps

on a-comin.”

One Riot, One Ranger

When sent to Dallas

to prevent a

scheduled prize-

fight, McDonald

supposedly was

greeted at the train

station by the city’s

anxious mayor, who

asked, ―Where are

the others?‖

To that,

McDonald is

said to have

replied, ―Heck

ain’t I enough?

There’s only one

prize-fight!‖

TEXAS OUTLAWSTrain Robbers

Indians

Bandits

Bootleggers

Bank Robbers

Murderers

Bandit Raids

On several occasions, Mexican

bandits raided into Texas.

And at least twice, Rangers

returned the favor, making

punitive strikes into Mexico.

In one battle in 1917, as many

as 20 Mexicans may have

been killed by Rangers who

crossed to the south side of

the river.

Bonnie and Clyde

Texas Highway Patrol Troopers killed by Bonnie and Clyde

Wheeler Murphy

Captain Frank H. Hamer

In February, 1934, Lee Simmons,

superintendent of the Texas prison

system, asked Hamer if he would track

down the notorious criminal couple

Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.

Hamer trailed Bonnie and Clyde for

102 days. Hamer and other officers

located Bonnie and Clyde in

Louisiana. The officer hoped to take

the outlaws alive but when the pair

reached for their weapons, Hamer and

the others opened fire. The careers of

Bonnie and Clyde were over.

1934 - Arcadia, Louisiana

The Beginning of DPS

1935In 1935, the Texas

Legislature created

the Texas

Department of

Public Safety. The

Texas Rangers and

Texas Highway

Patrol were merged

to form a single

state police force.

With the creation of

the Texas Department

of Public Safety, the

Texas Rangers had the

benefits of a state-of-

the-art crime

laboratory, improved

communications, and

political stability.

1935

•Tom Hickman – a veteran

Ranger was named Senior

Captain of the Rangers.

•The Rangers were

organized into five

companies, each headed by a

captain.

•Former Ranger Manuel T.

(Lone Wolf) Gonzaullas

headed the Department’s

Bureau of Intelligence, which

gave the Rangers the benefit

of chemical, ballistic, and

microscopic testing in their

criminal investigations.

In the early years as a part of DPS, Rangers were

paid automobile mileage and furnished a Colt .45

and a lever-action Winchester .30 caliber rifle by

the state.

Rangers still had to provide their own car, horse

and saddle, though DPS issued horse trailers.

1950’s--Rangers add to their legend—Inmates at the Rusk State Hospital for the Criminally Insane rioted and took

hostages, Ranger Captain R.A. ―Bob‖ Crowder and the leader of the mob had

a conversation and the inmates surrendered.

Rangers made national headlines by their quiet but firm

presence at various campuses in the state as school

integration was for the most part peacefully

implemented.

Rangers calmed down a violent steel mill strike in East

Texas; shut down illegal gambling in Galveston and

participated in numerous cases, some sensational, many

merely routine investigation.

―A Ranger is an officer who is able to

handle any given situation without

definite instructions from his

commanding officer or higher

authority. This ability must be proven

before a man becomes a Ranger.‖

Captain Bob Crowder

TODAY’S TEXAS RANGERS

TEXAS RANGER DIVISION

150 Texas Rangers

2 Forensic Artists

2 Financial Analysts

62 Support Staff

Drawn by: Forensic Artist Suzanne Lowe

Specialized Units

Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT)

Regional Special Response Teams (SRT)

Ranger Reconnaissance Team

Crisis Negotiations Unit

BORDER VIDEOS

Specialized Programs

Unsolved Crimes Investigative Program

Public Corruption Unit

Ranger Companies254 Counties – 150 Texas Rangers

Company “A” – Houston

Company “B” – Garland

Company “C” – Lubbock

Company “D” – McAllen

Company “E” – El Paso

Company “F” – San Antonio

Company “A” - Houston

Thirty-five counties bounded to the east by the State of Louisiana; to the south by the Texas Gulf Coast; to the north and west by Company “B” and Company “F”.

On August 5, 1823, near the small town of San Felipe, located in Austin County, the first ten rangers were employed by Stephen F. Austin to protect the settlers.

EquipmentEach Ranger is furnished:

• a Sig Saur .357 pistol

• a Bushmaster AR-15

• a LaRue Tactical .308 rifle

• a crime scene kit

• a Nikon camera

• a laptop computer

• an automobile

Rangers travel by car, airplane or

helicopter and occasionally by

horse.

Rangers are not issued uniforms.

Rangers are expected to wear

western boots, cowboy hats and

have their badges pinned to their

shirts.

TRAININGToday’s Texas Rangers receive extensive

training in a variety of subjects such as, Crime

Scene Investigation, Interview and

Interrogation techniques, Statement Analysis,

DNA Collection, Forensic Hypnosis, Tactical

Tracking, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and

numerous other specializations.

Crime Scene Investigation

Becoming a Texas Ranger

Texas Rangers are selected from the ranks

of DPS. To become a Ranger, a DPS

officer must have at least eight years of

commissioned law enforcement experience

(including 4 years with DPS). Ranger

appointments are made up on the basis of a

competitive examination and oral

interviews.

Ranger ResponsibilitiesThe activities of the Texas Ranger Division consist primarily of

conducting criminal and special investigations, apprehending wanted felons, suppressing major disturbances, protection of life and property, and rendering assistance to local law enforcement officials in suppressing crime and violence.

Investigations include: Murder, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, theft, fraud, misuse of criminal history information, misconduct and corruption of public officials, threats against the governor, missing persons, parental abductions, questionable deaths and unidentified bodies.

Investigations

2011 Statistics1. 3,839 investigations

resulted in:

• 1,501 felony arrests

• 153 misdemeanor arrests

2. 4,274 statements taken resulting in:

• 677 confessions to various crimes.

3. 12 Hypnosis sessions were conducted

4. Rangers recovered stolen property valued at $1,012,320 and seized contraband valued at $82,688.

5. 1,787 convictions resulting in:

• 1 death sentence

• 80 life sentences

• 9,306 years in the penitentiary time assessed

…the legend lives on!

QUESTIONS?

Texas RangersCompany “A” – Houston

281-517-1400

Ranger Wende Wakeman

1 Criminal Justice Drive

Conroe, Texas 77301

(936)538-3700