VINCE ZUBRAS FOR CONSTABLE

REPUBLICAN | ROCKWALL COUNTY| PRECINCT ONE

The Office of Texas Constable

What is a Texas Constable and What do they do?

A Texas Constable is a law-enforcing sworn Peace Officer

They are highly-placed county-level law enforcement officers with State-level enforcement and arrest powers. The Constable is also known as "the people's cop," dating back to the historical foundation of Texas when they were the only law enforcement officers in “The Wild West.” The Office of Constable is the oldest law enforcement Office in the State, beginning with the 1823 formation of Stephen F. Austin's “Texas Colony” under Mexican territorial dominion.

After the 1835-36 Texas Colonial revolt from Mexico, Constables remained the sole law enforcement officers of the new Republic of Texas. The position of Constable continued when Texas became a State of the Confederacy in 1861, and later when Texas joined the United States under treaty in 1865.

Constables are elected in county subdivisions called “precincts"

They hold the same level of authority as a Texas County Sheriff. Like Sheriffs, a Constable may appoint Deputy Constables to conduct the work of their Office.

Constables are both criminal and civil law enforcement officers

Constables have the widest range of law enforcement responsibility of any Peace Officer in Texas. The Office of Constable is the most technical legal position within Texas law enforcement, requiring them to continuously maintain additional updated legal education and special knowledge of the intricacies of civil law as well as criminal statutes.

Constables serve civil process and enforce (“execute”) court orders from the civil and criminal courts of both county and State levels

They are the Executive Officers of the Justice of the Peace courts. They enforce, under special court orders called “writs,” the seizure of all types of property involved in lawsuits (real estate, personal property, manufactured items, etc.) Court-ordered evictions from residential and commercial property are also enforced by Constables.

Constables are warrant officers

Constables arrest offenders on warrants issued from all criminal courts as well as seizing persons under civil custodial “attachment” orders from the civil courts. Constables place the arrested persons into the county jail, but the Sheriff is responsible for the budgeting, operation, and staffing of the jail itself.

Criminal investigations and enforce all Texas law

Constables may initiate and conduct criminal investigations and enforce Texas traffic law and all other Texas laws and codes, with the singular exception of certain municipal (city) codes and ordinances.

Contrary to common misconceptions, Constables have full legal authority to arrest and enforce the laws within the limits of the cities and the entire county, not just within their own designated precinct.

They also may travel to contiguous counties to enforce civil orders issued from their courts as well as to locate and arrest people on criminal warrants.

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Early Voting: May 14 - 25, 2012
May 29, 2012 - Republican Primary Elections