The Texas Rangers began in 1823 when Stephen F. Austin appointed men to “range” over a territory known as Texas.  Since 1935, the Texas Rangers have been a Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Currently, the Texas Legislature has authorized 172 commissioned positions.  The Texas Ranger Division includes Rangers, Ranger Command Staff, and full-time Special Operations Group “operators”.  All members of the Ranger Division are stationed in one of six companies, or the Ranger Headquarters Office in Austin.

The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco is a cooperative project of the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers and the City of Waco.  Its mission is to preserve the heritage of the Texas Rangers and serves as both our official state repository, and Headquarters of Ranger Company “F”.

Today’s Texas Rangers are a diverse group of law enforcement professionals with extensive training in crime scene reconstruction, interviewing and interrogation, tactical tracking, and many other law enforcement disciplines.  Each Ranger must have a minimum of eight years of law enforcement experience before being considered to join the ranks; however, most far exceed this initial requirement.  In addition to prior law enforcement experience, many Rangers have backgrounds in engineering, forensics, education, and ranching.  The men and women of the Texas Rangers are dedicated to protecting the citizens of our great state and preserving the unique heritage of America’s oldest law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction.