So I got a ticket today for going 70 in a 60 in the right lane on 610 at Kirby. I was pulled over by a Constable which makes me wonder What does a constable do? Also what is the difference between HPD, Constables, Sheriff's, State Troopers, HISD PD, etc. I ask because I have seen a State Trooper pull someone over on Veterans Memorial near beltway 8. I always assumed they worked the interstates. Why do we have sheriffs and constables when we have HPD? Yesterday night at 12:30 am I saw an HISD PD tear down 610 at over 90. Seems odd to be patrolling a freeway that late.
Constable ----------- The Texas Constitution 0f 1956(Article 5, Section 18) provides for the election of a constable in each precinct of a county, and counties may have between one and eight precincts each depending on their population. Currently, the term of office for Texas constables is four years. However, when vacancies arrise, the commissioners court of the respective county has the authority to appoint a replacement to serve out the remaining term. In Texas, constables and their deputies are fully empowered peace officers with county-wide jurisdiction and thus, may legally exercise their authority in any precinct within their county [39]; however, some constables’ offices limit themselves to providing law enforcement services only to their respective precinct, except in the case of serving civil and criminal process. Constables and their deputies may serve civil process in any precinct in their county and any contiguous county and can serve 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 therefrom and from any other court. Moreover, some constables’ offices limit themselves to only these activities but others provide patrol, investigative, and security services as well. -------------- Does that help? Constables usually only patrol a certain area ... their precinct and usually only perform specific duties such as patrolling parks, courts, and toll-roads ... but they are law enforcement ... just because they are in an HPD area doesnt mean that they cant pull you over. I doubt that they were patrolling the freeway. Probably just responding to a call...someone broke into a school or something Oh, don't forget. There is also Metro police.
There's no real difference except in the quality and quantity of donuts they get when they show up at the office in the morning.
More police the better. I wish we had some Super Troopers too. Instead of maple syrup, it would be BBQ sauce.
Of the 5 tickets I've received in my 15 years of driving. (none in the past 7 years) all but 1 came from a constable.
I think the only real difference is who they work for. HPD works for the city, Constables and Sheriffs work for the county, State Troopers work for the state, FBI works for the executive branch of the federal government, US Marshalls work for the judicial branch, HISDPD works for the school system, etc. That their different bosses have different mandates and powers probably impacts what their cops can or want to do.
Constables basically work for the judge. They do what the judge wants em to! Serve arrest warrants. If you're evicting someone they'll oversee that. That kind of stuff.
Today had to be the sorriest ticket I have ever gotten. I mean i can't argue becuase I was speeding. But 70 in a 60? Pulling over a driver in the right hand lane?
I got a qwerstion: So....we've all heard for years now that HPD is under-funded and under-manned. They would seem to have us believe that Houston is on the verge of anarchy or something the way they always talk about it. Does this apparent police crisis include all the law enforcement officers in the Houston area or only HPD itself?
