Met two Texas Rangers this morning

[JALLEN]

Some years ago, driving from CA to the hill country, we stopped in Junction for a meal. Outside was a Buick/Olds pulling a two horse trailer, common enough in those parts. Inside, I sat near a large man wearing ranch gabardine khakis, a white modestly western style shirt, bolo tie, boots, a badge discretely fastened above his shirt pocket, and the biggest revolver I have ever seen. An ordinary Stetson was sitting on the table next to him.

I was impressed with that. The police chiefs out here dress like South American Army colonels, or Muammar al-Gaddafi or somebody, more stars than Douglas MacArthur and Chester Nimitz combined. It looks ridiculous, but at least you can pick them out at the Duncan Donuts, and press conferences.

[gigag04]

The quintessential BBQ gun is a fully engraved pair of STI 1911s with gold leaf fill in the engraving with carved ivory grips in a Texas motif carried in a fully tooled double shoulder holster with extra reloads and silver Mexican conchos and Winchester Silver tip ammo.

FYP

[Chris]

I've worked with some of those guys. A couple of them are some cornbread eatin' fools; I would always hear the song "Big Bad John" in the back of my head when they were around. One had a massive ring with the Ranger badge on it. He used to brag that he never had time to wait on the jail to process his prisoners, so he would stamp their forehead with his ring and leave them at the door.

[BigGuy]

We've lived in Texas nigh onto 19 years and have been to a few Barbeques and crawdad boils... a few of 'em could be considered high falutin'. I've yet to see a "Barbeque" gun.

I'll keep my eyes (all four of 'em) peeled in the future. Thanks.

Thanks for asking. Now I know too.

[Maxwell]

Without the officers permission I would obscure the faces prior to posting the photo online to protect their privacy.

a police officer in the public domain has no right to privacy period, don't need permission period. and yes texas rangers are police officers, as a matter of fact if your walking around in a public venue I can take your picture use it to make money and you can't get a dime for the use of your image period!

JP, ever hear the word "respect" before? If not, you need to look it up, and while you're at it grow up a little. You might take a refresher course on the Golden Rule also...

Next thing we'll hear is how you didn't get out of a speeding ticket with your CHL...

[Reds45ACP]

So, I've been living in Texas less than a year so try not to get upset at my questions:

What is the LEO role of a Texas Ranger? Are they the ones that protect the Governor?

[C-dub]

So, I've been living in Texas less than a year so try not to get upset at my questions:

What is the LEO role of a Texas Ranger? Are they the ones that protect the Governor?

I think they are basically the Texas version of the F B I, but with a bigger reputation, longer, and rougher history.

[G26ster]

So, I've been living in Texas less than a year so try not to get upset at my questions:

What is the LEO role of a Texas Ranger? Are they the ones that protect the Governor?

I think they are basically the Texas version of the F B I, but with a bigger reputation, longer, and rougher history.

from the Texas Rangers Museum web site:

"The modern Texas Rangers are an investigative division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The 150 Rangers authorized by the Texas Legislature are posted across Texas in six companies with headquarters in Houston, Garland, Lubbock, McAllen, El Paso, and Waco/San Antonio with an administrative headquarters office in Austin. The Rangers have been called one of the most effective investigative law enforcement agencies in the world."

[JP171]

Without the officers permission I would obscure the faces prior to posting the photo online to protect their privacy.

a police officer in the public domain has no right to privacy period, don't need permission period. and yes texas rangers are police officers, as a matter of fact if your walking around in a public venue I can take your picture use it to make money and you can't get a dime for the use of your image period!

JP, ever hear the word "respect" before? If not, you need to look it up, and while you're at it grow up a little. You might take a refresher course on the Golden Rule also...

Next thing we'll hear is how you didn't get out of a speeding ticket with your CHL...

actually yes I have heard of and used respect, you should try it, personal attacks are not allowed here, thank you have a nice day.

As far as I am and the law is concerned anyone in the public is open to being photographed including LEO's of all kinds, Firemen, Accident scenes, EMT's and all others. OH and before I forget, never have gotten out of a ticket, but then don't get many of those, ummm like none in the last 15 years, hmmmm kinda kewl isn't it.


I have met several Tx. Rangers, good guys good cops never had a run in with any of them, been asked questions pertainant to ongoing cases only, but usually in uniform when I have talked to them

[Silent Professional]

The first two Texas Rangers I met drove up to the place where I was working at the time and asked if they could use the 1,000 yard rifle range to confirm zero on their Remington 700P's. I pulled and posted targets for them, and when I got back to the firing line, they were uncasing a pair of the most heavily worn (as far as worn finish) 700P's I'd ever seen, and that includes the ones I had in the armory. I offered to man the spotting scope so that both of them could send rounds downrange. They could shoot.

Both of them were about 6'4" - 6'6" tall, slim, and of few words. No "barbeque" sidearms.

To my understanding, currently the Texas Rangers are assigned the most difficult and sensitive investigations. Texas DPS pulls the EP function with the Governor and other dignitaries. And no, DPS is not the Rangers. And the number of actual Rangers is small and getting smaller. Shame. There's a lot of tradition and history with the Rangers, and something very reassuring about quiet, soft spoken men who can hit what they aim at at 1,000 yards. God bless them. I hope they never go away.

[gigag04]

And no, DPS is not the Rangers.

Not sure what you're saying - The rangers are a division of TxDPS.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/TexasRangers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Maxwell]

JP,

You are completely correct and I offer my apology to you for making it personal.What I should have said was that the comment you made sounded like a reporter hiding behind the letter of the law. As an example let’s look at the Powerball winner that did what he could to protect his anonymity. He even asked publically that it be respected but the Media went ahead and published his personal details, "because the law allowed it."

What you said was essentially the same. To paraphrase “If the Ranger was in public with his badge showing you can distribute photos of him as you wish with no regard to his personal wishes or welfare.” No matter what your personal experiences were with LEOs in general you just openly promoted publishing his face, ID, and status at an active LEO. And quoting the letter of the law does not get you out of this one. What you did was show your complete lack of respect for everyone that walks down the street, particularly LEOs, Firefighters, and even military.

The Golden Rule is not something you can hide behind. You have to be strong enough to stand in front of it just like the First Amendment. Yes you had the right to state what you did and it may even be fact. But adding the exclamation point at the end changed the entire tone and made it a personal statement not just a statement of fact and that made my blood boil. And yes I responded inappropriately for this board.

[old farmer]

History of
Texas Rangers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rangers1915.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[old farmer]

This one my favorite picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Txrangers3.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mike1951]

History of
Texas Rangers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rangers1915.JPG" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not one of their better periods.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Ranger_Division" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Rangers next saw serious action during the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910 against President Porfirio Díaz. The breakdown of law and order on the Mexican side of the border, coupled with the lack of federal military forces, meant the Rangers were once again called upon to restore and maintain law and order, by any necessary means. However, the situation necessitated the appointment of hundreds of new special Rangers by the state, which neglected to carefully screen aspiring members. The Rangers were responsible for several incidents, ending in the 1918 massacre of the male population (15 Mexican men and boys ranging in age from 16 to 72 years) of the tiny community of Porvenir, Texas on the Mexican border in western Presidio County. Before the decade was over, thousands of lives were lost, Texans and Mexicans alike. In January 1919, an investigation by the Texas Legislature found that from 300 to 5,000 people, mostly of Hispanic descent, had been killed by Rangers from 1910 to 1919, and that members of the Rangers had been involved in many acts of brutality and injustice.[15] The Rangers were reformed by a resolution of the Legislature in 1919, which saw the special Ranger groups disbanded and a complaints system instituted.