DPS Announces New Texas Highway Patrol Deputy Chief

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces the promotion of Bruce James to Deputy Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol (THP). This promotion follows the retirement of Deputy Chief Justin Chrane who served the department for nearly 30 years.

“For nearly three decades, Justin Chrane represented the best of the Texas Department of Public Safety, and we will be forever grateful for his service and dedication to protecting Texas,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw . “I am confident that Bruce James will continue to uphold the highest standards to which we are accustomed, and I look forward to seeing everything he accomplishes in this new role.”

Justin Chrane served the department for 27 years, first joining in January 1997 as a THP Trooper, serving in Decatur, Terrell and Austin. He would later be promoted to sergeant and serve in Bastrop, before being promoted to lieutenant at Capitol Hill in 2006. In 2008, Chrane was promoted to captain and served as K-9 coordinator. He was then briefly stationed in El Paso after being promoted to major in 2014. Chrane then transferred to Austin as an operational major and served as executive director of Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort (CARE), a national initiative aimed at reducing and preventing accidents. In March 2020, Chrane was promoted to deputy chief of the Texas Highway Patrol. Chrane is a second generation employee.

Bruce James, Deputy Chief, Texas Highway Patrol

Bruce James began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) in 1987. He then transferred to SAPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, specializing in investigations of child abuse and neglect. James also spent time serving as an SAPD hit-and-run investigator. In 2000, James joined the DPS, his first duty station being in Ozona. In 2007, he transferred to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE), then promoted to sergeant and lieutenant in 2008 and 2011, respectively. In 2014, James was promoted to captain at Garland, then transferred to Weslaco and promoted to major in 2018. In 2019, he transferred one final time to serve in the THP Chief’s office at DPS headquarters in Austin. In June 2024, he was promoted to deputy chief. James received the DPS Purple Heart Citation in 2012 and graduated from the Texas DPS Command College in 2017.

James’ promotion is effective immediately. He remains stationed at DPS headquarters in Austin.

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