Texas law enforcement is taking a fresh approach to public safety, and they’re using everything from coloring books to canines to do it.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has wrapped up its ambitious “90 Days of Safety” campaign, a three-part initiative launched on August 11, 2025, to commemorate the agency’s 90th anniversary. The statewide effort focused on community, road, and family safety — core missions that have defined the department since its establishment in 1935.
Public Education Blitz
What does a modern safety campaign look like? In Texas, it’s surprisingly comprehensive. The initiative featured a series of public service announcement videos from DPS leadership, reaching Texans through social media and in more than 180 driver license office waiting areas across the state. The department also revived its statewide coloring book program titled “Keeping Texas Safe” — an old-school approach to reaching the state’s youngest residents.
The campaign’s final phase, “Keeping Texas Families Safe,” began on October 10 and concluded on November 9, though officials emphasize that the educational efforts will continue beyond the official timeframe. It’s part of what the agency describes as an ongoing commitment to providing Texans with practical safety resources and actionable information.
Four-Legged Reinforcements
Beyond public education, DPS has bolstered its operational capabilities with nine newly graduated K-9 teams and four certified K-9 Tech Trainers deployed strategically throughout Texas. These specialized units support narcotics and explosive detection, tracking operations, and broader law enforcement efforts across the state’s diverse regions.
“The combination of traditional outreach with cutting-edge enforcement reflects our evolving approach to public safety,” a DPS spokesperson told this reporter. “We’re meeting Texans where they are — whether that’s on social media, in driver’s license offices, or through our K-9 units in communities statewide.”
Nine Decades of Evolution
The safety campaign comes as DPS celebrates its 90th anniversary, a milestone that’s prompted reflection on the agency’s development since its establishment during the Great Depression. From its origins as a highway patrol force, DPS has expanded into divisions specializing in law enforcement, technology, forensics, aviation, and intelligence.
Ninety years on, has the mission changed? Not according to officials, who maintain that while methods and technologies have evolved dramatically, the core commitment to public safety and service remains unchanged.
As Texas continues to experience rapid population growth and evolving security challenges, the department’s multi-faceted approach to public safety — from coloring books to K-9 units — suggests an agency attempting to balance tradition with innovation in its tenth decade of service.
