Texans: Educate me on what a "Constable" is

[Eurodriver]

I'm fighting a dirtbag who is trying to scam money out of me.

Talked to the local PD, they have spoken with individuals and determined that although this guy is dirtbag, no criminal act has occured and I need to go through a constable.

What the heck is a constable?

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_constable

[Eurodriver]

Originally Posted by LowSpeed_HighDrag

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_constable

Thanks but I was hoping for something a little more personal/real/understandable.

[kartoffel]

A Harris County constable once explained it to me as a county-level LEO who mainly serves warrants. Some constable's offices also hire them out as bailiffs, but AFAIK not every constable's office does that.

[Belmont31R]

Around here they basically serve court papers, warrants, and legal notices for the county.


They can still give out traffic tickets and such just have a different name. They are full LEO's just a different job than a city or state officer.

[Sry0fcr]

In my experience they do just about everything Harris County Sheriff's Deputies do including patrol.

[TriumphRat675]

There really isn't a hard and fast job description. Many mainly serve civil citations. Some handle animal control. Others have some professional SWAT trained warrant serving teams.

Since Constables are elected officials, county governments have limited control over their offices. In many areas the constable's office has a bad reputation. Others are quite good. It depends on the character of the individual Constable. Deputy constables are often part time and always badly paid.

In Dallas, after a bunch of official corruption scandals the Sheriff's office has taken over some of the constables' duties. In some other places that needs to happen.

In your case, what the local PD was really saying was "we are too busy with rapes, robberies and murders to deal with your complaint today and you will need to handle things yourself by suing the bad guy in JP court." Constables will serve the process and execute on any judgment you get. But, if you're lucky, and I mean really lucky, and there was something criminally fraudulent about what happened, the Constable may take an interest in your case, work it up, and present it to the DA. Don't hold your breath.