AUSTIN - A ceremony was held to swear in the new leader of the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday. Freeman F. Martin was sworn in as the new director at DPS headquarters in Austin by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Department of Public Safety has a new leader. Freeman Martin was sworn in Monday morning as the new DPS director, replacing Steven McCraw, who retired in November after 15 years as chief. In a news release, Gov. Greg Abbott said Martin “brings an extraordinary wealth of experience” to the position.

Colonel Freeman Martin, a former Texas Ranger and deputy director of the DPS, was sworn in by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a change of command ceremony outside the Texas DPS headquarters in Austin. Martin is replacing Col. Steve McCraw, who announced last summer he was retiring after 15 years.