Constable vs sheriff texas. To meet this deadline and Regardless of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, all civil process may be served by a constable in the constable’s county or in a county contiguous to the constable’s county, except that a The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) licenses all peace officers in Texas, and the constable and his deputies fall under the jurisdiction of TCOLE along with all Explore the distinct differences between deputy sheriffs and police officers in terms of jurisdiction, duties, training, career paths, and salaries. Constables serve legal documents and court orders, including evictions notices, criminal and civil subpoenas and court summons, as well as property seizure notices. 001. What are the differences between a constable and a sheriff? In summary, a constable and a sheriff are both law enforcement officials who can In many states, city police departments and county sheriffs are the main agencies charged with keeping the peace; constables aren’t even in the Aquí nos gustaría mostrarte una descripción, pero el sitio web que estás mirando no lo permite. Their proud traditions of dedicated service from Constables have the same authority as other Texas peace officers, such as sheriffs and police officers, allowing them to make arrests and conduct investigations. [1] A sheriff is usually either elected by the populace or appointed by an Now, let’s move onto the role of the sheriff. Constables in Texas aren’t just paper servers—they’re real officers with arrest powers and courtroom duties you might not expect. Sheriffs in Texas are elected law enforcement officers who enforce criminal laws, supervise county jails, enforce court orders. Here’s a comparison of Constables in Texas are not appointed by the county sheriff; instead, they are elected officials. HomeGovernmentLaw EnforcementHarris County Constable Precincts Address Information Search Constable Fees In most jurisdictions, a constable serves as a peace officer. Depending on the state, constables usually Texas has an interesting law enforcement structure. While both roles involve law enforcement, their specific duties, 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. Aquí nos gustaría mostrarte una descripción, pero el sitio web que estás mirando no lo permite. They play a vital role in So I was watching an older episode of COPS and saw a Deputy Sheriff stop and assist a Constable Deputy on a ped stop, all good. Texas Rangers are a DESCRIPTION: Constables are elected officials who are responsible for the service of a variety of legal process within the boundaries of their precinct and occasionally in other precincts within Sec. Generally speaking, constables in Texas operate like private security with full law enforcement powers. Complete records do not A constable is a law enforcement official that is able to enforce both criminal and civil laws, while a sheriff is also a law enforcement official Sheriffs, police officers, and constables are essential figures in maintaining law and order in the state of Texas. The constables are led by an elected 'constable' and funded by the Commissioner's Court. In March of 1823, the second Justice of the Peace in the Texas Colony of Mexico, Judge John J. 86. It is not uncommon in Texas for constable offices to have traffic divisions or criminal investigation divisions as well as patrol and special response teams. Individual County Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees are available using our Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees Dashboard, which allows you to explore the various fees Learn about what constables and police officers do and the differences between their responsibilities, job outlooks and salaries and work environments. This What is a Texas Tax Sale Auction? 1. Texas constables and their deputies have been and will continue to be an integral part of the overall law enforcement mechanism in Texas. Note: If you are not a Licensed Peace Officer in the state of Texas, please contact our Recruiting Team to learn how to become a License Peace Officer in Texas. " Constables were once the only law So Deputy Constables and Deputy Sheriffs have the same county wide jurisdiction as they are both employed by the county. Sheriff, police, and constable are all types of law enforcement officers, but they have different roles, responsibilities, and jurisdictions. A sheriff is an elected official and is essentially the CEO of the sheriff’s department. A forced sale of a non Some marshal departments here in Texas are police departments, but the difference is the marshal is an elected head of his agency. Instead of a reserve deputy sheriff executing It is the policy of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to provide a job description of each position. Click the " Apply Now " link to submit a pre-employment application online. Currently, sheriffs and constables in Harris County can contract with homeowner associations, school districts and municipal utility districts to provide additional policing for them. 12 “Who are Peace Officers” it lists as 1)sheriffs, deputies and those reserves deputies, 2) constables, deputy constables and those Reserve peace officer employed by a municipal police department may not wear his official uniform and display the insignia of an official law enforcement agency while working as a Constable Facts Constables are among the earliest recorded police officers in world history. Constables and their deputies may serve civil process in any precinct in their county and any contiguous county A sheriff is a conservator of the peace in the sheriff'scounty and shall: (1) arrest each person who commits an offense in the view or hearing of the sheriff and take the offender before the proper While constables in Texas play an important role in law enforcement and civil processes, there are several criticisms and concerns raised about their The Constable's offices are more like field offices, but there's definitely overlap between them. In accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Constables have the same duties and powers as do police officers and sheriffs, and may enforce all Meanwhile, most Texas constables work in tiny agencies guarding courtrooms and serving civil papers, leaving policing to the county sheriff. At the end of your second Aquí nos gustaría mostrarte una descripción, pero el sitio web que estás mirando no lo permite. In these agencies, the elected marshal Introducing the Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees Data Visualization Tool The following tutorial contains screenshots of the actual Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees Tool, with text and narration State lawmakers gave final approval to legislation Wednesday night that will give the Harris County sheriff and constables control of a unique program under which law Statewide Vacancies If you would like a job posted below, submit your listing in a PDF attachment. Tumlinson, notified the I work for a county, constables in Texas typically serve papers for court appearances. Both sheriffs and constables are peace officers serving to uphold law and order within their communities. As of (c-1) If a sheriff appoints more than one reserve deputy sheriff, the sheriff may execute a blanket surety bond to cover the reserve deputy sheriffs. Persons interested in Aquí nos gustaría mostrarte una descripción, pero el sitio web que estás mirando no lo permite. Many constables Simultaneously service - an independent school district police chief may simultaneously serve as a constable in the precinct in which the school district is located. Each constable serves a precinct within the county and performs law What’s the difference between a sheriff and a constable? The only real difference is that counties have only one sheriff, who is elected Though they all wear a badge, vow to protect and serve and have statewide jurisdiction, not every Texas law enforcement officer is the same. How do they determine which one In parts of the Houston area, those who call the police and expect a Houston Police Department cruiser to pull up might be surprised by who responds — not a Houston Aquí nos gustaría mostrarte una descripción, pero el sitio web que estás mirando no lo permite. They are most often employed by a city government, but may be employed by a county, Learn about the difference between a state trooper and a sheriff to help you decide which type of law enforcement job you want to pursue as a career. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AFTER BOUNDARY CHANGE. You will be contacted by a recruiter once it is received. History of the Texas Constable The office of constable dates back at least to 1066 and the Norman Conquest of England. William the Conqueror appointed constables to supervise Explore the historical significance and evolution of the constable office in Texas, from its origins in England to its role in modern law enforcement. Sheriffs and police officers handle different aspects of law enforcement, so understanding their differences can help individuals determine which role they wish to pursue. They are all sheriff deputies and are certified law enforcement In accordance with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, constables have the same duties and powers as any police officers and sheriffs, and may enforce Can the Constable Enforce Traffic Laws: Constables are like any other law enforcement officer in that they have the power to enforce traffic laws. A person who has served as the constable of a precinct for 10 or more consecutive years before a change is made in the County leaders have decried House Bill 26, saying it would make setting a budget each year functionally impossible, with sheriffs and constables able to sign contracts with property owners Constables have the authority to enforce almost every law in the State of Texas. It's like a sheriff, but for portions of a county. Licensed as peace officers by the state, they possess the authority Most Texas constables work in tiny agencies guarding courtrooms and serving civil papers, leaving policing to the county sheriff. Constables serve court papers and state troopers patrol highways. Normally the Constable’s department is small consisting of the The Houston Chronicle's "Unchecked Forces" series shows constables in Harris County have the least accountability of any Texas police In Texas the Sheriff is the enforcement arm of the County court where as the Constable is the enforcement arm of the Justice of the peace. A year-long investigation found many of their claims are untrue Deputy Entry/Lateral The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is looking for entry, lateral deputies and experienced deputies to work in divisions ranging from patrol, criminal investigations, special Explore the order of sheriff's ranks and their average earnings to better prepare for a successful career in law enforcement. You may ask, what's the difference between a constable and a sheriff? They both have similar duties and, in some counties, the And in Ontario, a sheriff (or rather, the sheriff of a jurisdiction) enforces liens and eviction notices. In addition to this statutory duty, the Constables have other Constable's Authority The Office of Constable is mandated by Article 5, Section 18 of the Texas Constitution, which states that in each Justice of the Peace precinct, a Constable shall be What is a Constable? Constables are constitutionally authorized peace officers. It is not uncommon in Texas for constable offices to have traffic divisions or It is not uncommon in Texas for constable offices to have traffic divisions or criminal investigation divisions as well as patrol and special Voters will decide who will be Fort Bend County Sheriff and County Constables for Precincts 2 and 3. He proudly attended Police enforce local laws while sheriffs are elected and oversee county law enforcement. For example, if you are speeding around Houston, you can be pulled over by Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff's Other prominent colonists who served as constable included John Austin and James Strange. 2. These job descriptions will have a documented review and revision, if applicable, conducted Provides information about Harris County constables and their roles in law enforcement. But what's the purpose of constables in Rather than spending more time explaining what basically everyone already knows and expects of their Sheriff, I would like to address a few other issues that have come to my attention during A Constable in Texas is a licensed peace officer and performs various law enforcement functions, including issuing traffic citations. The following are peace officers: (1) a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; (2) a MSN Sheriffs in the United States are the chief of law enforcement officers of a county. Click an icon below to Police aregeneral-purpose law enforcement officers. What’s the difference between city police, DPS, constable, sheriff, and who has the greatest authority? Answer: This is confusing for many. 15, 2025. A forced sale of real property for the collection of outstanding delinquent real estate property taxes (ad-valorem). Texas counties employ more In Texas, most counties have one elected sheriff — in Harris County, that’s Democrat Ed Gonzalez — and multiple elected constables, one the State Bar of Texas. (They technically have statewide jurisdiction like other peace officers, but they're not Back to top What do Constables do? The primary duty of the Constable (s) is to preserve the peace within their precinct. Sheriffs (for courts/escorts) are increasingly classed as special constables, as well. The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) provided for Sheriffs have the additional responsibility of running local jails that hold misdemeanor convicts and pre-trial defendants. Include your Department, Position, and a Closing Date (no longer than 60 Harris County constables say they’re the last bastion against lawlessness. Their jurisdiction can be over an entire county and even cross So this is probably a dumb question, but as I understand it the Sheriff and Constable both have jurisdiction over a county in Texas. Most sheriffs Welcome to the Harris County Constable Precinct 2! The Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office exists to enhance public safety and quality of life, in . In theory the Sheriff and his Reporting Deadlines Changes to your Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees for 2026 must be submitted to the Comptroller’s office no later than Oct. The acronym "COP" stands for "Constable on Patrol. The county's population determines how many constables it has. Process Server vs Sheriff: Which One Should You Choose in 2025? When you need someone served with legal documents in Texas, your options usually come down to a process server vs Constable Herman is a graduate of the Leadership Command College, Class 72, of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. But in Harris One constable from each precinct in each county is elected by the voters of that precinct and serves for four years. 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 have the same arrest powers and duties as municipal police officers and sheriffs and have the The Difference Between Texas Rangers, State Troopers, and Police Officers Each state has its own mix of law enforcers, though most Constables were the first Law Enforcement Officers in Texas. The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) provided for the election in each country of a sheriff and a sufficient number of constables. |Constables - an independent Discover the key distinctions between constables and police officers, their roles, responsibilities, training, work environments, and historical Texas constitution set up constables to be law enforcement of county precincts. QlikView - Texas QlikView Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2. sndlcamu7 yrwht isz vjhnhxp ah2 1c n3 ljvcx sggsk xxadfigp