Texas has more than 73,000 sworn peace officers – one for every 330 people. There are so many police officers, some lawmakers are worried there are too many, reports National Public Radio. Among the entities with their own peace officers is the State Board of Dental Examiners.
The proliferation of boutique police agencies has raised the concern of the Texas Municipal Police Association. Lobbyist Tom Gaylor worries that specialized police forces aren’t ready for prime time. “What kind of resources does that agency have?” Gaylor asks. “Where are they going to take an arrested person? What type of backup availability is there? One of the biggest concerns we have is what type of communication do they have between that agency and other agencies nearby?” What are their use-of-force guidelines?