Which department has the authority to appoint railroad peace officers?

The authority to appoint railroad peace officers is vested in the Department of Public Safety. This is significant because railroad peace officers are specifically designated law enforcement officers tasked with enforcing laws and regulations that pertain to railroads and their operations. The Department of Public Safety is responsible for overseeing various law enforcement operations within the state, which includes the appointment and regulation of specialized officers who operate in sectors that require unique expertise, such as in matters related to railroads.

Other departments do not hold this particular authority—while the Department of Transportation might handle transportation-related regulations and policies, it does not focus on law enforcement. The Railroad Commission primarily deals with the regulation of the rail industry, but it does not appoint peace officers. The Department of Justice, meanwhile, is focused on broader legal enforcement matters and does not specifically deal with this specific area of railroad law enforcement. This delineation of responsibilities underscores the structured organization of law enforcement oversight in relation to specific industries within the state.