Permian Basin, September 4, 2025
News Summary
Law enforcement agencies in the Permian Basin have launched the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Center to combat gang activity and violent crime. Funded by a competitive grant from the Office of the Governor, the center will enable collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies, including the Midland County Sheriff’s Office. This initiative aims to enhance safety and public order in the region, building upon the existing network of TAG Centers across Texas.
Midland — Law enforcement agencies across the Permian Basin have launched a new Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Center aimed at reducing violent crime in the region. The center is funded through a Texas Anti-Gang grant from the Office of the Governor and will be overseen and hosted by the Midland County Sheriff’s Office.
What the new TAG Center will do
The TAG Center will bring together federal, state, and local agencies to target gang activity, drug trafficking, and violent crime. It is intended to provide shared resources and technology to improve coordination and information-sharing across jurisdictions, with the explicit goal of reducing criminal activity and enhancing community safety in the Permian Basin.
Who is participating
The Permian Basin TAG Center will include participation from multiple law enforcement and prosecutorial organizations. Agencies involved include:
- Midland County Sheriff’s Office (grant overseer and host)
- Midland Police Department
- Ector County Sheriff’s Office
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Midland County District Attorney’s Office
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Border Patrol
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
Funding and selection
The facility is funded through a TAG grant administered by the Office of the Governor. The TAG Grant program is described as highly competitive and difficult to obtain, and the Permian Basin location represents a successful application of those state grant funds to support multiagency anti-gang efforts.
Significance and immediate impact
This new location is the 10th TAG Center in Texas. Other existing centers are in Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco. Officials say the addition of the Permian Basin center will add regional capacity for investigations, prosecutions, and operational coordination focused on gang-related activity and associated violent crime.
Operational focus
The center will focus on disrupting gang networks and drug trafficking operations that contribute to violence. By co-locating personnel, sharing technology, and coordinating casework, participating agencies aim to build more efficient joint operations, improve evidence-sharing, and support prosecutions across agency and jurisdictional lines.
Role of the Midland County Sheriff’s Office
The Midland County Sheriff’s Office will manage grant compliance and house the new facilities for the TAG Center. Hosting responsibilities include administrative oversight, facility management, and supporting the day-to-day operational needs of the multiagency team.
Supporting details and expected resources
Officials have highlighted that the center will provide crucial resources and technology to enable effective collaboration. While specific systems and tools were not itemized, the stated intent is to improve investigative capacity and streamline multiagency response to gang-related and violent crime challenges in the Permian Basin.
Background and context
The TAG Centers are a statewide initiative to combat gang activity and violent crime through coordinated action across local, state, and federal partners. By establishing a presence in the Permian Basin, the Governor’s office and participating agencies aim to replicate collaborative models used in other Texas regions to address organized criminal activity more effectively.
The Permian Basin TAG Center adds to an existing network of centers across Texas, signaling continued emphasis by state leadership on multiagency approaches to public safety. The planned collaboration is positioned as a practical step toward enhancing law enforcement capacity and improving public safety outcomes in communities across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the TAG Center in the Permian Basin?
The center is intended to coordinate federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts to reduce gang activity, drug trafficking, and violent crime in the Permian Basin by providing shared resources, technology, and operational collaboration.
Who is overseeing and hosting the new TAG Center?
The Midland County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the TAG grant and host the facilities for the Permian Basin TAG Center.
Which agencies are participating in the center?
Participating agencies include local police and sheriff offices, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Midland County District Attorney’s Office, and federal partners such as the DEA, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol, and the FBI.
How is the center funded?
Funding is provided through a Texas Anti-Gang grant from the Office of the Governor.
Is this the first TAG Center in Texas?
No. The Permian Basin location is the 10th TAG Center in Texas. Other centers operate in Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Tyler, and Waco.
What outcomes do officials expect?
Officials expect improved coordination, stronger investigative and prosecutorial capacity, and ultimately a reduction in gang-related activity and violent crime in the Permian Basin.
Key features and partners
| Feature | Description | Number / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Host agency | Midland County Sheriff’s Office | 1 |
| Participating local agencies | Midland Police, Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Midland County DA | 3 |
| Participating state & federal partners | Texas DPS, DEA, DHS, U.S. Border Patrol, FBI | 5 |
| Funding source | Texas Anti-Gang Grant from the Office of the Governor | Competitive grant |
| TAG Centers in Texas | Existing centers across the state including Dallas, El Paso, and others | 10 total (including Permian Basin) |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- News West 9
- First Alert 7
- Your Basin
- OA Online
- KCBD
- Wikipedia: Gang
- Google Search: anti-gang initiatives
- Google Scholar: gang violence
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gang
- Google News: Texas anti-gang center
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