TYPE: Hat/cap piece. Worn by uniformed officers of the San Antonio Police Department.
DESCRIPTION: All metal. Silver in color for non-supervisor ranks. Gold in color for supervisor ranks. It is topped with an eagle with wings outstretched and head facing to its right. The eagle surmounts a shield decorated with elaborate scrollwork on its edges. On the shield is a circular device within which is a star, the origin of the device is unclear, however, its center point was officially mentioned in 1836, when George Childress introduced a resolution at the general convention that “a single star of five points” be recognized as the “peculiar emblem” of the new Texas republic. And that “every officer & soldier of the army and members of this convention and all friends of Texas, be requested to wear it on their hats or bosoms.” The circular device has the words SAN ANTONIO in concave across the top and POLICE DEPARTMENT in convex at the bottom.
USAGE: Worn on front of cap/hat by all officers (except motor officers wearing helmets which bore an identical applique)
PERIOD OF USE: First seen being worn only by Chief of Police Owen Kilday in 1929. By the late 1930s, worn by all ranks, all positions, in silver or gold tone, to the present.