OK/TX Cattle rustling crimes worked by 29 special LEO's.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... b9610.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Many of us urban/suburban Texans are not aware of the fact that cattle rustling in our state
still continues, and large dollars are stolen every year.

The above article details the 29 special rangers who work the cattle rustling crimes in Texas
and Oklahoma.

They are not Texas Rangers, though. They are employees of the Texas and Southwestern
Cattle Raisers Association, based in Fort Worth. They are deputized by the Texas DPS and
the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and work regularly with local LEO's.

I found this an eye-opening read.

Note that the investigator profiled in the story is allowed to open carry his sidearm.
He is a native of Alpine, Texas, but works the North Texas area for his territory.

SIA

[NAVY CHIEF]

Ohh for the days of hangin' rustlers!

Hooyah!

[jbirds1210]

Art. 2.12. WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace
officers:
(1) sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve deputies
who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter
1701, Occupations Code;
(2) constables, deputy constables, and those reserve deputy
constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under
Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
(3) marshals or police officers of an incorporated city,
town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers who
hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701,
Occupations Code;
(4) rangers and officers commissioned by the Public Safety
Commission and the Director of the Department of Public Safety;
(5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal
district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices;
(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission;
(7) each member of an arson investigating unit commissioned
by a city, a county, or the state;
(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081, Education
Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;
(9) officers commissioned by the General Services
Commission;
(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the Parks and
Wildlife Commission;
(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city with a
population of more than 1.18 million that operates an airport that
serves commercial air carriers;
(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace
officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this
state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that
operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers;
(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and security
officers;
(14) security officers and investigators commissioned as
peace officers by the comptroller;
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and
improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees under
Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas State Board of
Medical Examiners;
(18) officers commissioned by the board of managers of the
Dallas County Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital
District, or the Bexar County Hospital District under Section
281.057, Health and Safety Code;
(19) county park rangers commissioned under Subchapter E,
Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing Commission;
(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, Occupations
Code;
(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a
metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,
Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority
under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney general
under Section 402.009, Government Code;
(24) security officers and investigators commissioned as
peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code;
(25) an officer employed by the Texas Department of Health
under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety Code;
(26) officers appointed by an appellate court under
Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
(27) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal under
Chapter 417, Government Code;
(28) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner of
insurance under Article 1.10D, Insurance Code;
(29) apprehension specialists commissioned by the Texas
Youth Commission as officers under Section 61.0931, Human Resources
Code;
(30) officers appointed by the executive director of the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,
Government Code;
(31) investigators commissioned by the Commission on Law
Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Section
1701.160, Occupations Code;
(32) commission investigators commissioned by the Texas
Commission on Private Security under Section 1702.061(f),
Occupations Code;
(33) the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or
investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under
Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code; and
(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of Dental
Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the
limitations imposed by that section.

[casingpoint]

Nowhere in that list did it mention persons with a CHL badge.

[joe817]

Fascinating post SIA, thanks for sharing.

I remember as a boy growing up in Clay County, we were members of the T.&S.W.C.R.A. We got a visit about 3 or 4 times a year from the Rangers. They asked us to put up those blue signs in white letters(saying we are members) on every pasture that was fronting on a county or public road. Looking back on that sign, it was the 30.06 equivalent for cattle rustlers.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

jbirds1210:
Thanks for posting the relevant statute regarding how these cattle rangers
are considered LEO's.

joe817:
When I'm ever far enough out in the country I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for
those signs.

SIA

[joe817]

jbirds1210:
Thanks for posting the relevant statute regarding how these cattle rangers
are considered LEO's.

joe817:
When I'm ever far enough out in the country I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for those signs. SIA

Great! They are about the size of a license plate, if I remember correctly. In fact they are stamped LIKE a license plate.

[KD5NRH]

(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section.

Why don't they just send the dentists after the rustlers if they're that dangerous?

[jbirds1210]

(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section.

Why don't they just send the dentists after the rustlers if they're that dangerous?

I guess they are just too busy keeping the dentist office a safe place for our children. I appreciate what they do.


The Enforcement Division is responsible for the preliminary investigation of complaints. There are 14 people in the Enforcement Division: Director of Enforcement, 10 investigators and 3 administrative technicians. Three investigators are based in Austin, with two located in Houston, one located in: Dallas, Huntsville, Fort Worth and San Antonio, North Texas. The Division investigates complaints against dentists, dental hygienists, and dental laboratories. Although the Board has no jurisdiction over unlicensed persons, the Board's investigators often help local prosecutors investigate allegations of practicing dentistry without a license or operating an unregistered laboratory.