Only the best from Bexar County's finest... (San Antonio, Kyle: credit, attorney)

[The Man in SATX]

Okay.. so I am driving on Wurzbach Parkway by Starcrest.. and see a Constable (2 were sitting on the side road apparantly looking for speeders as this part of Wurzbach parkway is known for a lot of offenders) driving towards IH 34 past Wetmore exit. He slows down.. (he was in the fast lane) to almost a stop.... then what does he do? He turns around (driving over the median intended to stop us drivers from turning around) and goes back towards Jones Maltsberger...

Now one thing is for sure.. if you or I (Joe Public) did that crap.. we would be looking at a ticket for sure... its crap like that, that pisses me off. The bad thing about it is.. if you call their bosses .. nothing gets done...

[WilGar]

Am I the only one the wonders why a constable has time to sit on the roadside and catch speeders.

I thought their mission was to serve summon and warrants. Have they ALL been served?

[rd2007]

I think a Constable is a super cop in Texas. I was talked to by a constable one day and looked them up when I got home and they're actual LE that can go anywhere in the state and do pretty much anything, including traffic impediment.

[majormadmax]

Constables are the only Law Enforcement mandated by the Texas Constitution...

Current duties if the Constable are to:

• Preserve the peace and good order of their precincts, and other precincts within the county
  
• To arrest, where authorized by the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, offenders against the Penal Laws of the State of Texas, taking then without delay before the proper Magistrate or Court to be tried
  
• To interfere without Warrant, to prevent and suppress crime within their precincts, and other precincts within the county
  
• Arrest offenders without warrant in order that they may be taken without delay to a Magistrate or proper court for examination or trial.
  
• Other duties are to execute and make return to the proper court according to Law: Arrest Warrants, Search Warrants, Witness Attachments, Criminal Subpoenas, and all other criminal process,
  
• Writs and precepts directed to the Constable by any Justice of the Peace, County Court, or District Court

Source: Texas Constables Online

And this from the Wilson County Constable web site...

What is a Constable?

Constables are constitutionally authorized peace officers. Constables have the same arrest powers and duties as municipal police officers and sheriffs and have the added responsibility of executing civil process for the courts.

The mission of this office is to serve as judicial officers for our courts. Our responsibilities include executing warrants and serving process that are directed to the constable including eviction actions and seizing property. A constable executes any civil or criminal process throughout the county including citation, notice, warrant, subpoena, or writ. The Constable's can also enforce traffic laws and any other duties that fall on Texas Peace Officers.

What kind of training does a Constable require?

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education: "Require that every commissioned Texas Peace Officer in the State of Texas continue their training and education by taking at least the required twenty-hours every two-year cycle." Every Peace Officer in the State of Texas attends a Police Academy and must take their TCLEOSE exam. The State also requires that every applicant take a medical and psychological exam. Continuing education courses include:

1. Family Violence
2. Cultural Diversity
3. Special Investigative Topics
4. 20 hour Civil Process Course
5. Firearms Training
6. Racial Profiling
7. 80 Hours of added training within the first 2 years of taking office

Cheers! M2

[BenjaminNicholas]

It happens all the time: SAPD and other branches breaking the very rules they are put in-place to enforce. It's very much a 'do as I say, not as I do' situation...

Just yesterday I watched a SAPD officer run through a red light on South Alamo without using his lights or siren. Just blatant misuse of the rule book and there's absolutely nothing that can be done to fix it. If you call to complain, they've got computer systems that can notate whether or not you're a regular 'complainer.' After awhile, you just become white noise to them and it's a worthless cause.



BN

[rd2007]

That actually worked out in my favor on Saturday. I was turning left onto Potranco from 1604 and was the last car through, but thanks to the morons in front of me suddenly slowing down, I sorta went through on a barely yellow/mostly red. There was a BCSD in the straight lane that floored it to make it through and he was further back than me, so it was all good. I don't blame him for that one, though, because you're screwed for quite a while if you miss that light.

[ServeandProtect]

I know this thread is old, but I just stumbled across it. I will be straight forward and say that I am Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy and proud of it.

First of all, if this incident that concernedSAcitizen speaks of really happened, then I apologize. We aren’t all arrogant and reckless. Most of us became cops to serve our community, and help others. Please, don’t base your opinion of our department on just a few arrogant deputies, it isn’t fair.

All departments receive complaints about their officers driving fast, it’s not just in Bexar County. What people don’t understand is that most of the time it is a necessity. In our policy it states we have to receive permission to run “code 3” (lights and sirens). These are for emergency calls such as major crashes, officers in trouble, or any calls where a life may be at risk. (We risk our lives to save yours) A lot of times we do not have permission to run code, but we still have to drive fast to the call, because it is possible someone is in danger, or someone’s property is at risk.

Also, to the person who posted our pay scale. It was way off. I believe that is what our detention deputies receive, not law enforcement deputies.

[The Man in SATX]

Originally Posted by ServeandProtect

I know this thread is old, but I just stumbled across it. I will be straight forward and say that I am Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy and proud of it.

First of all, if this incident that concernedSAcitizen speaks of really happened, then I apologize. We aren’t all arrogant and reckless. Most of us became cops to serve our community, and help others. Please, don’t base your opinion of our department on just a few arrogant deputies, it isn’t fair.

All departments receive complaints about their officers driving fast, it’s not just in Bexar County. What people don’t understand is that most of the time it is a necessity. In our policy it states we have to receive permission to run “code 3” (lights and sirens). These are for emergency calls such as major crashes, officers in trouble, or any calls where a life may be at risk. (We risk our lives to save yours) A lot of times we do not have permission to run code, but we still have to drive fast to the call, because it is possible someone is in danger, or someone’s property is at risk.

Also, to the person who posted our pay scale. It was way off. I believe that is what our detention deputies receive, not law enforcement deputies.

Ahh okay... so then making a U-turn on a highway that has a concrete divider is okay because they did it because someone might be in danger? Hmm I dont buy that one...

Going through red lights and not turning on your lights for just a second to indicate your going through it is dangerous too.. at least let us know that you are going to go through it.. not just run it..

[majormadmax]

ServeandProtect

Most of us realize it only takes a few bad apples to give the entire organization a reputation. I for one appreciate your comments and agree with them, all the encounters I have had with BCSD as well as DPS have been "positive" in a sense that the officers were friendly and professional. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for all the SAPD officers I've encountered; but even then I know the vast majority of them are professional...I was just lucky enough to meet the statistical anomaly!

Sure, I am not naive enough to think that some officers abuse their positions by doing stuff the OP witnessed; but I also know that sometimes things aren’t always as they appear. And the recent thread about the person being pulled over and ticked for not clearing the left passing lane was music to my ears, I applaud the enforcement of this law as it probably causes more traffic problems than speeding!

But for the most part, just know that the community appreciates the work you and your colleagues are doing. You put your lives on the line for our safety, and that shouldn’t go unrecognized…

Cheers! M2

[nrlatsha]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

But for the most part, just know that the community appreciates the work you and your colleagues are doing. You put your lives on the line for our safety, and that shouldn’t go unrecognized…

Hear, hear

+1