The Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Fleet Operations installation group has helped save the DPS $966,500 in fiscal-years 2016 and 2017 through equipment refurbishment and in-house installation on Texas Highway Patrol vehicles. The DPS recognized the 16-person group with a Unit Citation for their efforts on Feb. 22 in Austin.

“The staff that are dedicated to installing the electronics, including emergency lighting, sirens, antennae, storage, and weapons security, continue to perform at an exemplary level in spite of budget restraints and limited resources,” according to Brian Reynolds, director of fleet operations for DPS.

The installation group implemented the following initiatives that contributed to the savings:

• Refurbished 220 existing Whelen light bars for Texas Highway Patrol vehicles using new lens kits and mounting software, saving $400,000.

• Utilized reclaimed sirens on these vehicles, saving $31,900.

• Using time saved though process improvements, the team installed all equipment on these vehicles instead of outsourcing the labor, saving $534,600.

“The commitment to provide the greatest value to the agency while offering the very best equipment to the officers and agents in the field is a testament to the character of the department staff,” Reynolds added.

Fleet is responsible for acquiring, upfitting, and maintaining approximately 5,000 DPS vehicles, more than half of which serve the Texas Highway Patrol.