DPS Unit Numbering

[Wes]

The other day, I heard radio traffic on DPS primary on the GATRRS system. The unit calling was 8 Henry and a three digit unit number. This would be just like a highway patrol unit, except there's no Region 8 nor would there be Henry in the unit number.

Any ideas who or what the unit was?

 

[TXDispatcher1]

I am mystified by this type of unit number also. I have heard this type of unit number on Houston, Austin and Del Rio DPS so it can't be a regional type unit number. 8000 units are obviously CID units, with the second number after the 8 denoting the region, but what numbers do the Texas Rangers go by now? Could they be the 8 Henry units? I really haven't figured it out, and these 8 Henry units are very new on the radio. Anyway, whatever they are, I don't think they're Highway Patrol.

 

[NC5267]

A new one for me on the DPS channels is Paul WilliamXXX I have heard it on DPS San Antonio and on the DPS Austin Western area dispatch channel. Making traffic stops and running people like troopers.

 

[kmartin]

I recently heard a transmission on the Galveston PD dispatch channel from a DPS Air unit identifying himself as DPS 700 which was different , in the past DPS air unit was DPS 101 so they are changing up their unit numbers

 

[Bandingabout]

DPS air was using 101 last night on Titus Co. conventional.

 

[EAFrizzle]

A new one for me on the DPS channels is Paul WilliamXXX I have heard it on DPS San Antonio and on the DPS Austin Western area dispatch channel. Making traffic stops and running people like troopers.

PW = Parks and Wildlife, maybe?

 

[Gopher]

DPS air was using 101 last night on Titus Co. conventional.

I heard DPS 2 or 102 in Grayson County earlier this week.

 

[nd5y]

PW = Parks and Wildlife, maybe?

Yes. Somebody noticed that several years ago.

I don't know what 8H is. If it's not a DPS division it is probably some other state or federal agency or joint task force.

I used to know what the rangers, CID and emergency management designators were back before they changed to the "new" alphanumeric ones.

 

[Wes]

A new one for me on the DPS channels is Paul WilliamXXX I have heard it on DPS San Antonio and on the DPS Austin Western area dispatch channel. Making traffic stops and running people like troopers.

TPWD Game Warden (or possibly, potentially, state parks police). If I remember correctly, there's been some consolidation of DPS and Parks & Wildlife dispatch.

 

[Harold]

A new one for me on the DPS channels is Paul WilliamXXX I have heard it on DPS San Antonio and on the DPS Austin Western area dispatch channel. Making traffic stops and running people like troopers.

Game Warden. P(arks) and W(ildlife) .

 

[TXDispatcher1]

Game Warden. P(arks) and W(ildlife) .

Yes, PW units are definitely Parks and Wildlife game wardens and State Park Police. You'll occasionally hear FWxx units on DPS which are state fire marshals and I used to hear ABCxx units which are Alcoholic Beverage Commission units, but I haven't heard them in a long time

 

[TXDispatcher1]

Yes, PW units are definitely Parks and Wildlife game wardens and State Park Police. You'll occasionally hear FWxx units on DPS which are state fire marshals and I used to hear ABCxx units which are Alcoholic Beverage Commission units, but I haven't heard them in a long time

I meant to say FMxx units for fire marshals

 

[RETLE]

Had a trooper tell me that 8H units are Rangers and CID uses 8000 numbers with the 2nd digit indicating region (8B = Austin)
He also said that sometimes the "8 Henry" identifier is used for other units that do not fall under standard regional highway patrol designations, or operate in multiple regions.

 

[NC5267]

Game Warden. P(arks) and W(ildlife)

Thanks. Haven't monitored the DPS channels as much as I have in the past. Completely forgot Parks and Wildlife. I am used to hearing them on local county channels under different call signs.

 

[TXDispatcher1]

Had a trooper tell me that 8H units are Rangers and CID uses 8000 numbers with the 2nd digit indicating region (8B = Austin)
He also said that sometimes the "8 Henry" identifier is used for other units that do not fall under standard regional highway patrol designations, or operate in multiple regions.

Then that clears up the mystery. I had a suspicion that 8H units were Rangers and I already knew that the 8000 units were CID. Thanks!