Why Do Cops Wear Cowboy Hats In Texas? (Explained)

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Why Do Cops Wear Cowboy Hats in Texas?

When someone thinks of Texas, often times, visions of the old west are conjured up with its cowboys, horses, gunfights, saloons, and signature hats coming to mind.

In modern Texas, while there are still cowboys riding the range, cowboy hats have also become a part of the dress code for the state’s law enforcement agencies.

What is it About Cowboy Hats?

Cowboy hats have a long history as being a significant part of the Texas landscape.

What is it About Cowboy Hats?

One well-known name that came onto the western scene in 1865 was J. B. Stetson, who designed the traditional cowboy hat. Prior to Stetson’s modern design, the hats worn by Mexican vaqueros (cowboys) while out on the plains served the same purpose long before the original Stetson “Boss of the Plains” design came into being.

The goal for these hats is to provide protection from the heat and inclement weather. For the Vaqueros, the hat was also a means of signaling to other riders.

Who is Wearing Cowboy Hats in Texas?

Texas has many law enforcement agencies, each with its own style of uniform, including a hat. While wearing a traditional cowboy-style hat is not mandatory, but an alternative, many employees of law enforcement agencies across the state have chosen to don the “real deal” cowboy-style hat. 

Who is Wearing Cowboy Hats in Texas?

Men and women law enforcement employees who support and promote wearing a cowboy hat and opt to wear one have positions as sheriffs, deputies, state troopers, police officers, Texas Rangers, and U.S. Marshalls.

Benefits of a Cowboy Hat

The design, cut, and construction of a cowboy hat offers several benefits to law enforcement personnel, especially those who spend a good part of their working day outside. 

Benefits of a Cowboy Hat

Texas is known for its wide-open spaces. The state is also known for its abundance of sunshine, which means harmful ultraviolet rays penetrating the skin on a continuous basis. 

One of the benefits law enforcement personnel who choose to wear a cowboy hat have access to is that it provides protection to the face, ears, neck, and top of the head from the sun’s rays. The hat also serves as a protector against rain, sleet, snow, and wind. The design of the hat with its wide brim and high crown makes protection possible.

Whether it is a street cop cruising city streets, a state trooper monitoring the highways, or a mounted police unit patrolling an area, a cowboy hat is an impressive Texas icon and cops wearing cowboy hats make a lasting impression.