hey dee??

[Lloyd Smale]

I saw where some constable got killed in tx. We dont have constables. We have state police sheriffs and city and town police. Where does a constable fit in there?? I remember YEARS ago in some small towns up here there would be a constable but here it was a volunteer that didnt get paid.

[ironglow]

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   We have constables...appointed by the town board, some are serious, concerned citizens.  Problem is, since it is either a no pay or low pay position, it very often attracts "wannabes", who want to wear a uniform, a gun and sometimes overstep their bounds.

   We have a constable locally, who does provide some good services..collections. summons etc., and help with traffic control at times.  He is also armed and directing at the local court on wednesday evenings...guides folks through metal detector etc.
  He has sought ticket and arrest powers, but local govt has played that down.  We had 2 constables, Tim and Fred.. but Fred passed away about 3 years ago, and far as I know his job has not been filled.

   I think the position of constable is a vestiginal position, brought over by our early colonists, from
    Britain..although I have not bothered to research it.

[ironglow]

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  OK..I looked it up in Wikipedia, for what that is worth..  According to the article, the position can differ a bit, from state to state, and it gives a rundown of each state.  Apparently in Texas, counties are divided into precincts, but Dee can better run that down for you if he wishes, since that is his baliwick.

  In much of the north and east, counties are divided into "towns"...not to be confused with villages or hamlets, which would be a gathering of residences at a location within the township.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constables_in_the_United_States#:~:text=Constables%20may%20have%20additional%20specialized,local%20level%20of%20local%20government.

[Dee]

I saw where some constable got killed in tx. We dont have constables. We have state police sheriffs and city and town police. Where does a constable fit in there?? I remember YEARS ago in some small towns up here there would be a constable but here it was a volunteer that didnt get paid.

Our counties are divided into precincts. Each precinct can have a "constable" who is elected by the population of that precinct. That elected "constable" has just as much authority in his own precinct, as the sheriff does in the entire county.
Most constable offices are small and provide civil paper service to locals, back up local police officers ect to those in their precinct.

When you enter cities as large as Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston, and Austin, the Office of Constable becomes more important, and larger. They can be as large as some county sheriffs offices, with dozens of "deputy constables" doing the same duties as sheriffs offices.
The one your reading about is such a Constables Office.

[Lloyd Smale]

the one on tv looked like he had some power. He was wearing the same 4 stars as the sheriff was. Who would have the last say in a disagreement between the two? Do they have similar pay packages? Do you also have state police?

I saw where some constable got killed in tx. We dont have constables. We have state police sheriffs and city and town police. Where does a constable fit in there?? I remember YEARS ago in some small towns up here there would be a constable but here it was a volunteer that didnt get paid.

Our counties are divided into precincts. Each precinct can have a "constable" who is elected by the population of that precinct. That elected "constable" has just as much authority in his own precinct, as the sheriff does in the entire county.
Most constable offices are small and provide civil paper service to locals, back up local police officers ect to those in their precinct.

When you enter cities as large as Dallas, Ft Worth, Houston, and Austin, the Office of Constable becomes more important, and larger. They can be as large as some county sheriffs offices, with dozens of "deputy constables" doing the same duties as sheriffs offices.
The one your reading about is such a Constables Office.

[Dee]

As long as a constable is in his own precinct, his power/authority is equal to the sheriff in  most everything as I understand it.
Pay packages are set by counties so that would vary county to county.

Our state police are "The Texas Department of Public Safety" troopers, but a sheriff or constable has more authority than they do.

[ironglow]

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   Wow!  There is a real difference between constables, depending upon what jurisdiction they are located in.

  Perhaps the big difference in authority between here and Texas, is because like the sheriff,constables arte elected..not appointed by the town board.

  "Elected by the people", obviously carries a more understandable stamp of authority.