The shoulder patch of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, adopted in 1988, incorporates a portion of the Coat of Arms of the County of Bexar as registered with the Royal Armourer of His Royal Highness Juan Carlos I, King of Spain. This portion is the shield contained within the circle inscribed on the shoulder patch in which the words “THE STATE OF TEXAS” and “COUNTY OF BEXAR” are contained.

The Heraldic description of the shield is as follows:

"Divided in four quarters, the superior sinister quarter, (upper left hand, white field), displays the arms of Don Alvaro de Zuniga, Duke of Bejar, (brother-in-law of the Spanish Governor of Texas), "surmounted with the Gold Chain of Navarre", (equivalent to our Medal of Honor), "and the Bar Dexter", (black bar slanted downward to the right), which indicates the Duke to be the legitimate heir to the title.

Don Alvaro was the Spanish Court’s representative in the New World and was given a portion of the Texas territory, (which was considered a part of Coahuila), to care for and develop for the King, hence the name of the territory (later to be designated “County” to be “Bejar” or “Bexar”, pronunciation of the “j” or “x” in the Spanish language being one and the same).

"The superior Dexter quarter", (upper right hand, blue field), "shows on an azure field the Mission San Francisco de la Espada", (considered a classic example of the Missions built by the Franciscan Fathers in the New World). The field of blue represents the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

"The inferior sinister quarter", (lower left, green field), "on a field of vart shows a double eagle Or", (a double or two headed eagle in gold), "representing the American Eagle and the Mexican Eagle superimposed, symbolic of the two parent countries of the Republic of Texas, the green field representing the prosperity enjoyed by the people of the County of Bexar."

"The inferior Dexter quarter", (lower right, red field), "shows an argent field with a white star and white cannon pointed outward. The star represents the State and the Republic of Texas, the field of red represents the blood that was shed to gain independence, and the cannon represents the battles which were fought. The cannon is purposefully pointed outward from the center of the shield, away from the eagle, thus expressing the peace that now reigns between the two nations

The shield is surmounted by the Ducal Crown and supported by a scroll which reads "BEXAR".  Neither of these appetencies are included with the shield produced on the patch.

To request this unique and historic patch, please contact Deputy Martin Meachum