DPS Honors Exceptional Work At Last PSC Meeting Of 2018

AUSTIN – Last week, the Texas Public Safety Commission (PSC) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw presented a Director’s Citation to a DPS employee at the final PSC meeting of the year. Additionally, the Texas Joint Crime Information Center was recognized for winning the National Fusion Center Association’s 2018 Best Collaborative Effort Award.

“At every meeting of the Public Safety Commission, we take the time to honor the outstanding efforts of DPS employees and various divisions within the department as they work hard to serve and protect our state and fellow Texans,” said Director McCraw. “It is a privilege to recognize the good work and selflessness of these outstanding men and women.”

The following awards were presented:

Trooper Ryan Askew, Texas Highway Patrol–The Woodlands, received a Director’s Citation. On July 13, 2018, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office broadcasted a priority call advising that a man was walking around a shopping center parking lot talking to himself and waving around a knife. As DPS personnel and Shenandoah Police arrived and initiated contact, they witnessed the man pressing the knife against his chest and leaning into a light pole, as if he was attempting to harm himself. Trooper Askew — who is certified in crisis intervention — arrived shortly after and made contact with the subject. Trooper Askew directed the subject’s attention away from harming himself and began building a rapport. He patiently and effectively negotiated with the man, successfully convincing him to release the knife. As a result of Trooper Askew’s actions, the subject was not harmed, and he was able to receive proper mental health evaluation and treatment.

The Texas Joint Crime Information Center received the National Fusion Center Association’s (NFCA) 2018 Best Collaborative Effort Award at their annual training event. NFCA’s mission is to represent the interests of the state and major urban area fusion centers, as well as associated interests of states, tribal nations, and units of local government, in order to promote the development and sustainment of fusion centers. Fusion centers enhance public safety; encourage effective, efficient, ethical, lawful and professional intelligence and information sharing; and prevent and reduce the harmful effects of crime and terrorism on victims, individuals and committees. To be nominated for the Best Collaborative Effort Award, candidates, units or centers must have demonstrated exceptional collaborative efforts, which significantly contributed to the mission of a network center and/or improved the security posture of the jurisdiction or the nation.