Sheriff Javier Salazar was sworn into office on January 1, 2017 as the 34th Sheriff of Bexar County. He is a Bexar County native and graduate of Samuel Clemens High School. He attained his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from the Alamo Colleges District. He later received his Bachelor's Degree from Wayland Baptist University and holds a Master Peace Officer License from Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Prior to being elected, Sheriff Salazar served with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for twenty-three years. He joined SAPD at the age of 21 and worked in various capacities. Sheriff Salazar first worked as a patrolman, then in Downtown Bike Patrol, and was one of the first members of the Community Policing Unit known as the San Antonio Fear Free Environment (S.A.F.F.E.) Unit. He was promoted through the ranks of the SAPD also serving in Narcotics, the Executive Protection Detail, and in the Office of the Chief. He then became an Internal Affairs Investigator and in 2012, the Director of Communications. His last assignment with the SAPD was as Director of the Department's Integrity Unit.
About Sheriff Javier Salazar
During his tenure with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Salazar has created several units including; Adult Detention Mental Health, Contraband Abatement Team, and the Applicant Processing Unit. In the interest of community engagement and safety, he has also created the Public Integrity Unit, Mounted Patrol, Special Victims Unit as well as the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Response and Education (SCORE) Unit.
He has made community engagement one of the top priorities of his administration. In doing so Sheriff Salazar has created several programs including; Active Shooter Training, Gold Badge Business Certification, Pastors on Patrol, the Senior Fraud Program as well as the Sheriff’s Citizen Academy.
Sheriff Salazar’s philanthropic work includes serving various nonprofit and community organizations.
He has been married to his wife Sarah for twenty years and is the proud father of two daughters.
