Page 23 - March 2021 TTI

premises immediately. The
investigator escorted him to his
room, waited while he gathered his
things, and led him to a Sage
vehicle. He was driven miles away
from the ranch and left off on the
side of the road next to a major
Central Texas highway. The Sage
investigator advised Mr. Smith that
he was not to return to the ranch.
The intervention was complete,
and everyone was satisfied with the
results.
Months later, Sage learned that Mr.
Smith met another woman, who
was wheelchair bound, on
Match.com. He stole a $5,000
tennis bracelet from her; he was
not arrested but asked to leave the
premises. To this day, it is still
unknown if Mr. Smith was ever
arrested by Comal County and
prosecuted.
About the Author:
Edmond J. Martin, of Sage Investigations,
LLC in Austin, TX. Martin is a retired
US Treasury Agent and has managed his
PI agency for the past 20 years. He can be
contacted at 512-659-3179.
THE TEXAS INVESTIGATOR
Meet Your
Regulators!
Wayne Mueller, Chief
Wayne Mueller, a 19-year veteran, was appointed as Chief of the
Regulatory Services Division (RSD) in December 2018. His initial focus
will be to lead the division through the 86th session and Sunset
processes, implementing any changes mandated by the legislature.
Wayne strives to continue the successes that the division has enjoyed by
providing quality and timely customer service to the licensed
population.
Previously in 2012, Wayne served as Chief and Assistant Chief of the
Administration Division, where he led facility operations, fleet
operations, asset management, inventory management, human resources, and enterprise
project management.
Prior to the Administration Division, Wayne held the position of Assistant Chief in the
RSD. Wayne was integral in shaping the division in 2009, leading the organizational
restructuring and significant change that followed. Wayne helped define the division's core
principles that remain today: lean, efficient, nimble, and scalable.
Before moving to the executive management side of the agency, Wayne spent 9 years in the
Office of General Counsel (GC) as Assistant GC. Wayne graduated from the University of
Texas at Austin in 1990 with a BA in Sociology/Government and received his law degree
from South Texas College of Law in Houston in 1997. He completed the Governor's
Executive Development Program through the LBJ School of Public Affairs in 2011.
Jason D. Hester, Assistant Chief
A graduate of Howard College in 1995, Jason was born and
raised in Big Lake, Texas. In 2012 Jason returned to college and
completed his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Criminal
Justice from Tarleton State University. Jason’s law enforcement
career started at the Tom Green County Sheriff's Department.
His DPS tenure started in 1997 upon graduation from the DPS
Law Enforcement Academy. His first duty station was Big Spring.
Jason promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2003 then Patrol
Lieutenant in 2008 and was stationed first in Del Rio and then
transferred to San Angelo.
In March 2010, Jason was promoted to Captain over Law Enforcement Education
and Recruiting. In this position, he oversaw the hiring and training of all DPS
State Troopers and the DPS Law Enforcement Academy. In 2012 Jason graduated
from the 251st session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. He was
promoted to Major in August 2013. In September of 2013 Jason was appointed by
Governor Rick Perry as Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement and was reappointed by Governor Gregg Abbott in December of
2019.
In August of 2016 Jason transferred back to the Texas Highway Patrol Division
where he oversaw the Tactical Marine Unit and DPS Dive Team, Equipment
Purchasing and Major Contracts, and Personnel Accountability Programs. In
September of 2019 Jason was promoted to Assistant Chief over the DPS
Regulatory Services Division, where he currently serves.
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