Texas' new Department of Public Safety Director: 'We will not give up one square inch of this state'
New Texas DPS director Freeman F. Martin speaks
New Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Freeman F. Martin speaks after being sworn in on Monday. Governor Greg Abbott administered the oath to ceremonially swear-in Martin as the 14th director in the department's history. Martin is the first Texas Ranger to ascend to the position.
AUSTIN - A ceremony was held to swear in the new leader of the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday.
Freeman F. Martin was sworn in as the new director at DPS headquarters in Austin by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Freeman F. Martin (Courtesy: Texas DPS)
"Today, Texas faces the most significant public safety threats and homeland security threats of our entire lifetime," said Martin after he was sworn in.
Martin called his appointment the honor of a lifetime and says he is ready for the role.
"Texas is a law and order state, and we will not give up one square inch of this state to cartels, to gangs, to violent offenders or to crime," he said. "Texas will be safer tomorrow than it is today."
Martin replaces Colonel Steven McCraw, who retired after 15 years as the director of DPS.
Martin, 56, most recently served as the department's Senior Deputy Director. He has led the department's response to several high-profile crises, including Hurricane Harvey and Texas' Operation Lone Star border security mission, according to Texas DPS.
"Freeman Martin has demonstrated the flexibility and the agility to respond to the constantly changing public safety threats that we experience in the great state of Texas," said Governor Greg Abbott.
Martin, a native of New Deal, Texas, will be the department's 14th director.
He began his career with DPS in 1990 as a patrol trooper.
Martin is the first Texas Ranger to ascend to the director role.