Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), has announced his retirement after a 15-year tenure at the helm of the state's top law enforcement agency. The news of his departure came as he addressed a crowd at a DPS trooper graduation ceremony. As reported by KSAT, McCraw assured the audience that Governor Greg Abbott will find a suitable successor, stating, "It’s rather an easy thing to do, because I know Gov. Greg Abbott will ensure that my replacement is as good and likely better than I am at this particular job."
McCraw's career with DPS began in 1977, and over the nearly five decades, he has been a fixture in Texas law enforcement, with his name coming to greater prominence in the later years of his service. His involvement with Operation Lone Star and the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting has placed him and the agency in the spotlight. According to an interview with KENS 5, on Sept. 9, 2022, McCraw said, "We have some level of culpability. I've got no doubt. To the extent that the Department of Public Safety is responsible for the failed response – there are some things I just can't admit to, simply because it's not true. And I'm not in a position right now to try to defend what DPS did or not."
The director’s impending retirement caps a lengthy law enforcement career that has been both varied and notable. Before his tenure as DPS director, McCraw served as a trooper for the Texas Highway Patrol and as a special agent with the FBI, later taking on the role of the Texas Homeland Security Director under the Office of the Governor. His educational background is rooted in his home state, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts degrees from West Texas State University, renamed West Texas A&M University, as outlined by KENS 5.
McCraw also played a part in the controversial collaboration between DPS and the Austin Police Department to address local staffing issues last year, an arrangement that faced its share of scrutiny. This, alongside his leadership during Operation Lone Star and the department's response in Uvalde, will likely be points of reflection as the State of Texas looks ahead to the appointment of his successor and the future of DPS. McCraw's end of service is scheduled at the close of 2024, as reported by KSAT.
