What nefarious criminals lurk at the fringes of Texan society preying upon the weak and sowing discord? Organized crime, such as illegal gambling rackets, operating through clandestine front organizations keeping the mob boss out of the light, that's what! A drama based on DPS case files, this film, presented by the Texas Criminal Justice Council and the Texas Department of Public Safety, follows a group of Texas lawmen as they bring down an illegal gambling racket whose dastardly cohorts resort to violence and murder in waging their criminal war against society. The ultimate theme of this film is a plea to viewers to support wiretap legislation in Texas.
Established by the Texas Legislature on August 10, 1935, the Texas Department of Public Safety was created by the consolidation of the Texas Highway Motor Patrol with the Texas Rangers. Since that time, its duties have grown to include such activities as the state licensing of drivers, vehicle inspection, narcotics enforcement, and the State Civil Defense Office, (now the Division of Emergency Management,) which aids local governments during times of natural disaster or social upheaval. While its duties have evolved over time, the mission of the DPS has remained constant - to provide public safety services to those people in the state of Texas by enforcing laws, administering regulatory programs, managing records, educating the public, and managing emergencies, both directly and through interaction with other agencies.