Texas Department of Public Safety

Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas
Common name	Texas Department of Public Safety
Abbreviation	DPS
Motto	Courtesy, Service, Protection
Agency overview
Formed	1935
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Texas, United States
Size	261,797 square miles (678,050 km2)
Population	26,768,000 (2018 est)[1]
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	5805 North Lamar Blvd Austin, Texas
Agency executives	Freeman F. Martin, Director/Colonel Jason Taylor/Lt. Colonel, Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Operations Walt Goodson/Lt. Colonel, Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Services
Website
www.dps.texas.gov

The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, commonly known as the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is a department of the state government of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and driver license administration. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. However, under state law, the Governor of Texas may assume command of the department during a public disaster, riot, insurrection, formation of a dangerous resistance to enforcement of law, or to perform his constitutional duty to enforce law.^[2] The commission's five members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, to serve without pay for staggered, six-year terms.^{[citation needed]} The commission formulates plans and policies for enforcing criminal, traffic and safety laws, preventing and detecting crime, apprehending law violators, and educating citizens about laws and public safety.

The agency is headquartered at 5805 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin.^[3]