We've got a more highly educated trooper. We've got more coming through with degrees. Richard Campbell, head of traffic law enforcement in Abilene, is also pleased. He said the DPS emphasizes all-around law enforcement mainly through traffic stops. We have courses designed to show them how to look for drug traffickers.
Drug traffickers have certain peculiarities.
It has to do with their demeanor on the road. We feel like one of our responsibilities, because we're on the highways, is to try to stem the flow of drugs. Statewide, the DPS worked 989 drug-related cases in 1996 compared to 445 cases in 1987. A large marijuana harvest may have also contributed to the recent drug busts, DPS officials said. El Nino produced the rains they needed.