Using Holiday Magic To Connect Cops & Community

 

What is a Constable and what do you do?” That’s a fair question and to be honest even some of my brothers and sisters in blue don’t even know what we do.

To better understand what a Constable is and their position in the Law Enforcement Sector one must learn the history of the Constable. Constables are among the earliest recorded police officers in world history. From a very humble beginning in the 5th century, by the turn of the 6th century they were chief household officers. In France, Constables commanded the armies in the Kings absence. They were noted peacekeepers under King William 'The Conqueror' in 1066 Constables responsibilities were expanded with the adoption of the Magna Carta, which not only became the pattern for most of the world’s Constitutions, but also mentioned Constables in written law. Constables have served the Justice Court system since 1362. In 1583 William Lambard published the first Policy & Procedure manual for Law Enforcement which outlines the duties of the Constable.

Constables were the first Law Enforcement Officers in Texas. In March of 1823, the second Justice of the Peace in the Texas Colony of Mexico, Judge John J. Tumlinson, notified the colony’s leader and grant holder, Stephen F. Austin, that he had appointed one Constable to summon witnesses and bring offenders to justice. Thomas Alley was the first Constable, and it wasn’t until nearly a year later, in 1824, that the first Sheriff was elected in the colony.
In 1836, the Constitution of THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS established Constables as primary Law Enforcement Administrators, whose stature is still upheld today under article 2.12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They are elected to four‐year terms of office and are commissioned by the Governor of Texas as Law Enforcement Agencies just as the Sheriff's Department or Texas Department of Public Safety. In fact, a Constable is an associate member of the Department of Public Safety (D.P.S). under section 411.009(a) of the Government Code. His/her "original" jurisdiction is anywhere in the county of election and is statewide in all criminal and most civil matters.

Shortly after Texas became a state, an act passed by the legislature specified that the constable should be "the conservator of the peace throughout the county," adding that "it shall be his duty to suppress all riots, routs, affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies, and he shall keep the peace, and shall cause all offenders to be arrested, and taken before some justice of the peace." Constables were the most active law‐enforcement officials in many counties during the early statehood of Texas.

In Texas, constables and their deputies are fully empowered peace officers with state‐wide jurisdiction in most cases and thus, may legally exercise their authority in any precinct within their county. Yes, a Constable may make vehicle and pedestrian stops, write tickets, conduct criminal investigations, and file criminal charges. Constables and their deputies may serve civil process in any precinct in their county and any contiguous county and can serve arrest warrants anywhere in the state. The duties of a Texas constable generally include providing bailiffs for the justice of the peace court(s) within his precinct and serving process issued there and from any other court. Because civil law is often more technical than criminal law, additional training in specialized schools is required for all Deputies and Administrative Support Staff.

In a 2000 census of Law Enforcement officers, there were 2,630 full-time deputies and 418 reserve deputies working for the 760 constables’ offices in Texas. Of this number, 35% were primarily assigned to patrol, 33% to serving process, 12% to court security, and 7% to criminal investigations.
There is a certainly a long and proud history in Texas of Constables providing police services and protection to their citizens and this office is proud to continue in this tradition.

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

My journey into public service began long before my decision to run for Constable. As a teenager I always looked for ways to serve my fellow man – there was no bigger way I could find than enlisting in the US Army. I served my country honorably from 1988 – 1997. I was very fortunate to be able to travel the world while serving and working within specialized operational units. The Army was a great experience and it allowed me to work within a diverse group of professionals on a world stage serving people from all cultures. One of the biggest takeaways from my time in that uniform was the power of unity and action. After the Army, I've worked as a police officer, SWAT Team leader, SWAT sniper, private military contractor, and in the corporate security world for Fortune 500 companies. All of which has provided me with invaluable insights into the challenges our communities face and the ways we can address them together.

In 2013 I became the elected constable for precinct one here in Coryell county and have served admirably and with honor since then. I have had the pleasure of working with-in our community to strengthen the relationship between the police and the citizens we serve. I have run my office on the idea of being excellent in customer service. We provide Compassionate Service and Devoted Protection.

VALUES THAT GUIDE ME

Integrity, transparency, and humility are the cornerstones of my approach to public service. I believe in treating every individual with respect and dignity, regardless of their background. I am committed to fostering an environment of trust between law enforcement and our community, where open communication is encouraged, and collaboration is key. My goal is to create a safer, more inclusive, and resilient community for all residents of our county.

 

As Constable, I envision a future where our neighborhoods are safe havens for families.
I envision a future where local businesses thrive, and where community bonds are stronger than ever.

I am dedicated to working tirelessly to reduce crime rates.
I am committed to enhancing community-police relations.

I am determined to provide resources that empower our youth to make positive choices.

My vision for the office is to always find unique and innovative ways to be a “value add” to our community.

I will always prioritize respecting the taxpayer.
I am committed to giving the best return on investment possible.

Feel free to contact us any time.  We will get back to you as soon as we can.