OK, I'm confused; what is the difference in CT, Constables, Troopers, police officers

[ruby0711]

After reading the thread about the Penn. 'Constable', I am even more confused as to what a 'constable' is.

Now, I am in CT, and my town is a constable town that seems to be run by a Connecticut State Trooper. The town next to me, is a Police Department that is run by it's own officers.

My town just in the past couple of years had implemented a system where there promotions such as 3 Sgt.'s and one detective. Prior to that, they all had the same title. Oh, and technically, the 'Chief' is the 1st selectman....:confused::eek::rolleyes:

Don't get me started on THAT...

Now, as it has been explained to me, I know that the constables in this town are 'elected' every year their contract is up.

I've also been told, and I am not sure if this is true or not, that technically, 'constables' do not have the powers to arrest. :confused:

They carry guns, tasers, cuffs and pepper spray...so, um, I don't get it.

We also have a K9 unit.

Now, when it comes to crimes in our town, they are as serious as any other town, but some of the cases are transfered over to the State Police Troopers...

Why is that?

Do the Troopers kind of 'trump' the 'constables'?

What about the towns that are not overseen by a Resident State Trooper? Do the State Police have precedence over a town police department?

Now, as I see it, it looks as though Ct's troopers are..and I hate to say this, but, better trained than the town constables, yet, they go to the same academy. (I think).

I will never understand the 1st selectman as the Chief thing...but I digress.

I know, a lot of questions, but I am just curious.

Thanks!

[copgirl]

A PC (Police Constable) is a cop just like me, I think (not an upper officer unless he's called Chief Constable).

I live in Belgium and all we have here are
- Chef de Zone
- Chef de Corps
- Commissaire Divisionnaire
- Commissaire en chef
- Commissaire
- Inspecteur Principal
- Inspecteur
- Agent de Police

[Super Six 5]

A PC (Police Constable) is a cop just like me, I think (not an upper officer unless he's called Chief Constable).

It's a little different here in the US.

Here's how it is in CT -

CT State Police have authority throughout the state. In some of the smallers towns, Resident State Troopers run the departments. This is because the towns can't afford to have full-time police departments. A resident state trooper is still employed by the CTSP and still answers to their leadership. In turn, municipal officers work under the resident state trooper. They are certified police officers that have completed the POST academy. The department numbers are usually small, and regular state troopers help out by patroling the same areas to compensate.

Where you are getting confused Ruby, is the term constable. Constable is an outdated term for a part-time police officer in one of these small towns. Like stated above, they are regular municipal cops with POST certification. They have nothing to do with the elected constable person.

An elected constable, often has no experience and is usually not a full time government position since it pays only a few thousand dollars. In CT, this person does very little. They are mostly called upon to find people who haven't paid their car or property taxes. You are correct when you say they have no arrest authority. They are not law enforcement officers.

Now, the reason that Troopers will often take over the cases from your local officers (in a resident state trooper town) is that your local officers are either part timers and won't be available for court testimonies, or your town won't be able to cover it's patrol shifts when they are.

Troopers and the officers that work for resident state trooper work hand in hand, relying on each other.

Mayors and 1st selectmen are technically the Chiefs of police(in the resident state trooper towns), though in most cases have very little to do with the department. All complaints are directed to the RST or his command staff at whichever barracks he's assigned from. These "Chiefs" don't have arrest authority or carry weapons, unless it's on their own CCW permit.

Hope that clears things up a little.

[Oldbillplod]

And just to confuse you all, every police officer in the UK is a constable regardless of rank.

[MP_Steve]

In Maine, a Constable is (usually) a part-time law enforcement officer appointed directly by a town council to enforce the same laws as any regular police officer, carry a firearm, and make arrests.

It will be provided in the town charter as to the full extent of a constable's powers, as some are not certified as LEOs and thus only perform civil work on the town's behalf.

Like I said above, a Constable in Maine is usually a part-time LEO appointed by a municipality, but not to be confused with a part-time LEO employed by a municipal police department. Some towns have both. :rolleyes:

[ruby0711]

Where you are getting confused Ruby, is the term constable. Constable is an outdated term for a part-time police officer in one of these small towns. Like stated above, they are regular municipal cops with POST certification. They have nothing to do with the elected constable person.

An elected constable, often has no experience and is usually not a full time government position since it pays only a few thousand dollars. In CT, this person does very little. They are mostly called upon to find people who haven't paid their car or property taxes. You are correct when you say they have no arrest authority. They are not law enforcement officers.

Ah, ok. I have often laughed at people who refer to our town officers as 'fake police officers'..believe me, I've heard it many times in the small town I live in. I don't know, the cuffs look real to me...:p

And I see now where the confusion is, all of the officers have to go through POST training, so it DOES seem that the term 'constable' is really outdated.

It looks as though my town is slowly trying to set it up so we will be able to stand on our own. The town has grown significantly through the years. Our town has lost many GREAT officers because there is no way to get a promotion...well, in the past atleast. The town has spent much money training new officers only to see them leave in a few years for a department that has the ability to move up the ladder.

It will be interesting to see where the future goes with my local department.

Thanks for the replies!!

[ruby0711]

And just to confuse you all, every police officer in the UK is a constable regardless of rank.

Ah, that is where our English roots show....

In Maine, a Constable is (usually) a part-time law enforcement officer appointed directly by a town council to enforce the same laws as any regular police officer, carry a firearm, and make arrests.

It will be provided in the town charter as to the full extent of a constable's powers, as some are not certified as LEOs and thus only perform civil work on the town's behalf.

Like I said above, a Constable in Maine is usually a part-time LEO appointed by a municipality, but not to be confused with a part-time LEO employed by a municipal police department. Some towns have both. :rolleyes:

SOunds like this is how it is set up here as well.

[JDS]

In some area of CT the town/city constables are pretty active serving civil process, including capius for child support issues. Some carry guns, some don't. They are "peace officers" by defenition ( CGS 53a-3(9) ), but typically do not attend any academy.

Here is everything you would want to know...

Elected Town Constables
1666 of document(s) retrieved

Topic:
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS/EMPLOYEES; LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS;
Location:
POLICE;
Scope:
Connecticut laws/regulations;




The Connecticut General Assembly

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH

Room 5300

Legislative Office Building

Hartford, CT 06106-1591

(860) 240-8400
FAX (860) 240-8881

olr@po. state. ct. us











October 5, 1994 94-R-0903

TO:

FROM: Lawrence K. Furbish, Assistant Director

RE: Elected Town Constables


You want to know what the duties, powers, and authority of elected town constables were.

SUMMARY

As you know, there are two types of constables, elected and appointed. The basic difference is that usually appointed constables have law enforcement functions while elected constables are primarily responsible for serving civil process and tax warrants and carrying out other sheriff-like civil duties. But this general rule does not always hold since towns can, by ordinance, make elected constables law enforcement officials. It appears that such officials would have to take some sort of police training such as that offered by the Municipal Police Training Council. However, there are a number of ambiguities in the statutes concerning constables.

BACKGROUND

The office of constable was transported to Connecticut from England and has undergone gradual changes since its institution. The earliest Connecticut statutory cite for constable appeared in 1650 and authorized constables to have legal powers similar to sheriffs. Some of the basic language contained in the earliest codification of the statutes remains unchanged today.

The main purpose for continuing a constabulatory form of law enforcement in the state was the "preservation of peace. " As time progressed, the responsibilities were altered to adapt to what was deemed illegal and a priority by society, for example searching out bootleggers during prohibition. At one time, each town was required to appoint one constable specifically to collect its portion of the state tax (such as the corporation tax) on towns. The office has developed to the point where the constable provides the main law enforcement authority in some towns with no organized police department or resident state trooper. In towns with resident state troopers, the constables are under the direct supervision of the trooper.

ELECTED CONSTABLES

Constables are elected during the regular municipal elections for two year terms. Towns cannot elect more than seven constables each, except Groton which can elect up to 14. The law prohibits judges, except judges of probate, from holding the office of constable (CGS § 7-87). When the number of constables to be elected is an even number, no person is allowed to vote for more than one-half the number. In cases when the number is an odd number, the person cannot vote for more than the basic majority of the number (CGS §§ 7-187 and 200).

The elected constable is required to take a proper oath of office prior to beginning his term. In addition, elected constables are prohibited from receiving a license to serve alcoholic beverages (CGS §§ 7-87, 30-45).

There are a number of duties of elected constables that are very clear under the statutes.

Service of Process

Constables may serve and execute any and all civil process (CGS § 52-50) and they have the same power in their towns when doing so as sheriffs, as well as the same liability for neglect in doing so (CGS § 7-89). The statutes establish and authorize fees and expense payments to sheriffs and constables who serve process (CGS §§ 52-261 and 261a). The statutes specifically mention certain types of summons that can be served by constables: mechanics liens (CGS § 49-35a), prejudgment remedies (CGS § 52-278c), attachments (CGS § 52-325a), and postjudgement procedures (CGS § 52-350(a)(12)). Constables are also authorized to serve redevelopment agency compensation notices (CGS § 8-129).

Probate Court

The statutes authorize constables to take possession of decedents' estates in certain circumstances and at the direction of the probate court (CGS § 45a-316). They are also directed to serve probate court notices in certain types of cases: to respondents in sterilization cases (CGS § 45a-693) and for hearings on conservatorships and guardianships of mentally retarded persons (CGS §§ 45a-649 and 671).

Command of Assistance

Constables may command necessary assistance in the execution of their duties from any person (CGS § 7-90).

Tax Collection

Constables can serve tax warrants in any part of the state and they may be authorized by a local tax collector to collect taxes due the municipality (CGS §§ 12-135 and 162). They are also included in the definition of "serving officer" in the statutes on state collection agencies for state taxes (CGS § 12-35). They may also be directed to file a distraint (seizure) order against the property of a delinquent lottery sales agent (CGS § 12-569).

Animal Related Duties

Constables have several responsibilities related to animals. They are directed to cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture in its program for the eradication of bovine tuberculosis and other contagious diseases (CGS § 22-286) and the eradication of avian (poultry) diseases (CGS § 22-326b).

Court Attendance

The sheriff may authorize constables, in place of deputy and special deputy sheriffs, to "attend" the Superior Court when it is transacting business (CGS § 51-30) and constables must be paid $ 20 per day when attending such courts (CGS § 6-41).

Other Duties

Constables may be required to deliver to members of the General Assembly notice of special and reconvened sessions of the General Assembly (CGS § 2-7).

APPOINTED CONSTABLES

Under the statutes, appointed constables usually have some sort of law enforcement status. And the statutes specifically provide that " no constable elected pursuant to the provisions of section 9-200 shall be considered a peace officer for the purposes of this subsection (which governs warrantless arrests), unless the town in which the constable holds office provides, by ordinance, that constables shall be considered peace officers" for these purposes. Constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties are considered " peace officers" for purposes of the penal code (CGS § 53a-3(9)). Appointed constables who perform criminal law enforcement duties are considered police officers for purposes of the municipal police training laws (CGS § 7-294a).

There are a number of statutes that impose duties on constables without specifying whether they contemplate elected or appointed constables. By the nature of the duties imposed, it seems likely that they would only apply to law enforcement constables. These include the following:

1. preventing disorders at elections (CGS § 9-230),

2. prohibiting certain activities at elections (CGS § 9-236),

3. assisting judges in campaign finance violation inquires (CGS § 9-346b),

4. dealing with abandoned motor vehicles (CGS § 14-151),

5. enforcing motor vehicle theft and recovery laws (CGS §§ 14-152 and 197),

6. enforcing other motor vehicle laws (CGS §§§ 14-224, 225, and 226),

7. enforcing snowmobile/all-terrain vehicle laws (CGS § 14-386),

8. taking custody of abandoned aircraft (CGS § 15-76),

9. taking custody of delinquent children (CGS § 17a-8),

10. regulating highway and water nuisances (CGS §§ 19a-335 and 340),

11. carrying out hazardous waste vehicle forfeiture (CGS § 22a-250a),

12. enforcing various dog and animal control laws (CGS §§ 22-367, 369, 370, and 377), and

13. taking custody of a military court witness who refuses to appear (CGS § 27-189).

LKF: lav

[mobrien316]

An important distinction in Connecticut between constables and police officers is that constables have no police powers outside of their jurisdiction, whereas police officers can make felony arrests in any part of the state.

Other than that, both of them must attend the POST academy and they all get the same initial training.

[txinvestigator1]

This policeman was driving down the road and saw a little boy in the bar ditch playing with chicken Sh!&. He stopped and asked the little boy what he was doing. The little boy said he was making a policeman.

The cop laughed his butt off, then called his Constable buddy over. He told the Constable to ask the little boy what he was doing. Of course, the little boy looked at the shoulder patch and said, I'm making a Constable.

They both got a good laugh and decided to call over their trooper buddy. The same course of events happened, except the little boy looked at the Trooper, thought for a few seconds, then said, "I'm making a policeman".

Confused, the cop and the constable walked down and asked the boy why, when each of them asked what he was doing with the chicken sh!&, he told the cop he was making a policeman, then told the Constable he was making a Constable, but didn't tell the trooper he was making a trooper.

The little boy just said, matter factly, "I don't have near enough chicken sh!& to make a trooper!"


Now you know the real difference.