Look Who it Was Random video

Texas DPS gave phantom arrest numbers supporting secret detection system

762 views · Published 18 June 2015 · 1:01 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: The Dallas Morning News · 2015 · News & Politics

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Read the Dave Lieber Watchdog column on June 19, 2015 - http://share.d-news.co/UuYoULX - to learn about how in the surveillance state of Texas, Texas Department of Public Safety gave phantom arrest numbers to support the power of its secret TrapWire threat detection system. 

DPS gave the false numbers to The Watchdog, his Dallas Morning News and dallasnews.com readers and to members and top staffers of the 2015 Texas Legislature. DPS apologizes for the error.

In this brief video, Dallas Morning News Watchdog Dave Lieber and Marina Trahan Martinez talk about their story that shows the agency's credibility is in tatters. Whether you're running a tiny police department or one of the nation's largest law enforcement agencies, which DPS is, you can't make up stuff to look good.

This Watchdog column shows that DPS' top brass engages in a pattern of "police puffery" and unnecessary secrecy. An expert on government-media relations calls DPS behavior "straight up evasion." DPS Director Colonel Steven McCraw declines to make himself available to discuss these serious credibility issues.

Read about how the top cop brass in Texas is hurting itself in The Watchdog column. http://share.d-news.co/UuYoULX

The Watchdog column was honored with the 2015 Lone Star Award from the Houston Press Club for its coverage of Texas DPS.

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