The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced the promotion of Bruce James to Assistant Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol (THP). This appointment follows the retirement of Assistant 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 have no doubt Bruce James will continue with the highest standards we’ve come to expect, and I look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in this new role.”
Justin Chrane's tenure began in January 1997 as a THP Trooper, serving in Decatur, Terrell, and Austin. He was later promoted to sergeant in Bastrop before advancing to lieutenant at the Capitol in 2006. In 2008, Chrane became captain and served as the K-9 Coordinator. He briefly worked in El Paso after being promoted to major in 2014, then returned to Austin as operational major and Executive Director of Operation Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort (CARE), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing crashes. In March 2020, Chrane was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol.
Bruce James began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) in 1987. He later joined SAPD’s Criminal Investigation Division focusing on child abuse and neglect investigations and also served as SAPD’s hit-and-run investigator. In 2000, James joined DPS with his first duty station in Ozona. By 2007, he transferred to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) service and subsequently rose through the ranks: sergeant in 2008, lieutenant in 2011, captain in Garland in 2014, major in Weslaco in 2018, and finally transferring to serve at DPS headquarters in Austin by 2019. He 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.
