tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post9135284445794910724..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Does Texas need constables in the 21st century?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75703709753405030582009-10-30T21:52:43.985-05:002009-10-30T21:52:43.985-05:00The Narcotic Task Forces tried to get in on the Ho...The Narcotic Task Forces tried to get in on the Homeland Security game and wanted to re-flag themselves as Counter Terrorism Task Forces.<br />Fortunately, thanks to Harris County and Baytown they screwed that up and this never came to be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-73900641262176754362009-10-30T10:44:12.419-05:002009-10-30T10:44:12.419-05:00Well most of my experiences with Constables have b...Well most of my experiences with Constables have been in Travis and Bastrop Counties. Neither of which are ever going to be accused of being Republicans. As far as Homeland Security goes, bad idea and stupid. But then, I never accused GWB of being a conservative.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11790070986517855769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-33344032696908489432009-10-30T00:22:10.000-05:002009-10-30T00:22:10.000-05:00I have two words for the unprecedented expansion o...I have two words for the unprecedented expansion of law enforcement...HOMELAND SECURITY!Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46644181922298806392009-10-29T17:01:51.202-05:002009-10-29T17:01:51.202-05:00Good story about the proliferation of Texas peace ...Good story about the proliferation of Texas peace officers:<br /><br />http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113805196<br /><br />It seems that little Texas agency wants their own praetorian guard. wantsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-34924544779175391172009-10-29T13:51:57.215-05:002009-10-29T13:51:57.215-05:00One commenter commented on voting the contables ou...One commenter commented on voting the contables out... but I don't think there is a "NONE" option on the ballot.<br /><br />In the same vein as the constable issue are the other specialized law enforcement agencies - Independent School District Police, Campus Police (which claim to have a jurisdiction to enforce traffic laws on streets that are not part of the Campus - like the area surrounding the Texas Medical Center).<br /><br />Why so many layers of law enforcement?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-19564345042447887512009-10-29T11:57:46.318-05:002009-10-29T11:57:46.318-05:00Dear John,
Former President George W. Bush presid...Dear John,<br /><br />Former President George W. Bush presided over what, to that point, was the largest expansion of government in our nation's history and many of you limited-government Republicans sat idly by while it occurred and only now want to raise up and cry out at Obama's expansion of government. Gotta love partisan politics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-79571623361220520172009-10-29T10:48:52.034-05:002009-10-29T10:48:52.034-05:00Similar situation in Harris Cty. Beyond mission c...Similar situation in Harris Cty. Beyond mission creep, these guys are on steroids, getting into everything from traffic tix, to swat squads, to vice squads, and always the photo op raid to shut down a business that hasn't paid taxes right before election time.<br /><br />Didn't the AG opine that constable private contract patrols for hoa-s, etc were illegal?<br /><br />Constables are cash cows for jp courts at least one of which boasts a greater than 99% conviction score. (Prct 4, J.Kent Adams)<br /><br />Papers can be hung cheaper by private process servers.<br /><br />Couple of years ago we got rid of hide inspectors, let's give the constables the same heave-ho.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31841093236187402552009-10-29T07:00:48.537-05:002009-10-29T07:00:48.537-05:00What do Barney Frank's comments have to do wit...What do Barney Frank's comments have to do with me or this blog? Do you imagine that he and I have some some reason hold the same opinions, 1:07? Or do you just think that everyone who disagrees with you automatically agree with each other? What a bizarre connection to make!Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-36796481439841303972009-10-28T13:24:45.279-05:002009-10-28T13:24:45.279-05:00If I recall correctly, getting rid on Contables in...If I recall correctly, getting rid on Contables in Lubbock was defeated in the committee that the legislature designates to see which proposed consitutional amendments get on the ballot. Never was a vote statewide on abolishing this office. Constables statewide intimidated the legislature to keep it off the ballot and were successful.<br /><br />PlatoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10392767175197550852009-10-28T13:07:46.760-05:002009-10-28T13:07:46.760-05:00It's kind of funny. Barny Frank recently said ...It's kind of funny. Barny Frank recently said "We Are Trying On Every Front To Increase The Role Of Government." <br /><br />And, Grits is highly critical of many governmental agencies. Ever wonder what the far left really believes?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18129382251737085482009-10-28T11:24:17.980-05:002009-10-28T11:24:17.980-05:00"This amount of money could be cut significan...<i>"This amount of money could be cut significantly if these positions were abolished and the deputies transferred to the Sheriff's Office."</i><br /><br />Except the SO has much higher standards so they won't take these yahoos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46125572201518023852009-10-28T11:08:54.873-05:002009-10-28T11:08:54.873-05:00In the larger metropolitan areas this is a massive...In the larger metropolitan areas this is a massive duplication of effort. In the rural areas the constables do their jobs as designed. Good luck on getting the Texas Constitution changed, however. If I recall correctly, they tried it to get rid of the constables in Lubbock once before. Result: fail.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-38697282463763068612009-10-28T09:28:33.429-05:002009-10-28T09:28:33.429-05:00Harris countys budget for Constables in fiscal yea...Harris countys budget for Constables in fiscal year 2009:<br /><br />Approximately $115,000,000<br />(thats 115 million!)<br /><br />Constable precints:<br /><br />8<br /><br />(thats 8 different elected officials, 8 different departments, 8 different dispatch centers, etc, etc, etc.)<br /><br />This is a total waste of taxpayer resources. This amount of money could be cut significantly if these positions were abolished and the deputies transferred to the Sheriff's Office. You say times are tough, the Commissioners Court is not giving COLAs to its employees this year. How about cutting these goof balls out of the loop and creating a Sheriff's Office which is larger, more powerful, and better funded.<br /><br />Constables offices dilute the strength of County Law Enforcement and need to be abolished!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70624026971664126902009-10-28T09:28:09.773-05:002009-10-28T09:28:09.773-05:00The deputy constables of Precinct 4 are also the r...The deputy constables of Precinct 4 are also the rudest cops I have met in years. First words out of one that stopped some kids? "Get the fu@k out of the car". Watched one pull a guy over for passing a school bus preparing to stop on the opposite side of the road - lights were NOT flashing red but started after he had already passed by - and he was in this poor guys face hollering yet he had no idea why he was even pulled over. Another one had traffic detoured for hours due to an accident but he had his back to traffic, talking on his cell and used a tow truck to plug a lane of major traffic instead of coning off the traffic lanes. When he was finally released from the accident site he and another unit left at over 50 MPH in a 40 zone, just to look "cool". Met one person who was fighting a ticket not because he didn't deserve it but because he was so upset at how he was treated by the deputy constable. Have meet many good deputies but the professionalism of Precinct 4 in dealing with the public is at the bottom of the barrel - and its all the constable's management team's fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-8031829408038362332009-10-28T09:15:56.688-05:002009-10-28T09:15:56.688-05:00The existence of constables in Harris County is bo...The existence of constables in Harris County is both a waste of funds and a danger to deputy constables and deputy sheriffs alike. In Precinct 4, for example, they refuse to work with each other (except to make a "run" on the current responsibilities of the sheriff's office), do not back up each other on traffic stops, have deputies working neighborhoods side-by-side yet won't respond to calls in the neighboring 'hood covered by the other agency, duplicate various divisions of the sheriff's office, etc. Picture having two separate Austin Police Departments working the city of Austin - that is what the County Commissioners Court of Harris County has created in supporting the constable in Precinct 4 to duplicate the responsibilities of the Sheriff. It's bad management and yet it is allowed to go on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90529047132872963432009-10-28T08:58:09.676-05:002009-10-28T08:58:09.676-05:00Not only do we need a constitutional amendment to ...Not only do we need a constitutional amendment to abolish every constable in the state, we need to throw in country treasurers as well. Thought should be given to do the same thing with county and district clerks. We do not need so many independently elected county officials, period. this goes back to the carpetbaggers after the civil war. Times have changed. How is it that school districts, city governments, etc. get along quite well without electing all these people?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4298758948398556942009-10-28T08:35:18.942-05:002009-10-28T08:35:18.942-05:00Constables are a gi-normous expense for county ins...Constables are a gi-normous expense for county insurance, what with their racing about the burgs in their cop cars, crashing into people, livestock, and hay mows, and making bogus arrests. It was a constable who got caught stealing parts of the space shuttle Challenger when it blew up. It was a constable who got caught choking his chicken in the magazine store in San Antonio this week. It was constable who, oh, you get the point. There is an IQ ceiling for constables that coincides with the IQ floor for execution-eligible defendants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-26560254367166468302009-10-28T07:53:08.158-05:002009-10-28T07:53:08.158-05:00Some constables might be honorable retired FBI Age...Some constables might be honorable retired FBI Agents for all I know but I can tell you that plenty of them are law enforcement wannabes and the deputy constables are wash-outs from other agencies driving around playing cowboys and indians.<br /><br />It was a deputy constable that tased that 72 year old woman a few months back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91301010851844667482009-10-28T06:33:30.548-05:002009-10-28T06:33:30.548-05:00"Bottom line HERE...PUT THEM OUT OF OFFICE. U..."Bottom line HERE...PUT THEM OUT OF OFFICE. UNTRAINED MORONS PLAYING POLICE."<br /><br />"Constables are a JOKE. Just another layer in law enforcement bureaucracy that is truly out control. Go evict deadbeats and leave traffic enforcement to the real police. Idiots!"<br /><br />Boyness........<br /><br />Many elected constables are honorably retired officers from municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies with extensive hours of training.<br /><br />Perhaps before you say constables are idiots you might visit these links and read the story of the line of duty death of Smith County constable Dale Geddie.<br /><br />Before his election as constable, constable Geddie started out working for Smith County SO in the jail, then lieutenant and also in patrol and criminal investigation.<br /><br />Constable Geddie had responded to a call for assistance (family Violence) by Smith County deputies when he was shot down by the suspect. The male sususpect opened fire on both officers with a rifle, fatally wounding Geddie and severely wounding the deputy.<br /><br />Idiot? No. Just a man who loved his work and believed in trying to help his fellow man, especially those who were weak and taken advantage of. The man who would be there to help you too if you called.<br /><br /><br />http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5003086<br /><br />http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5000295&nav=1TjDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20286241527784786632009-10-28T06:26:58.578-05:002009-10-28T06:26:58.578-05:00Here's a constable in San Antonio lending a ha...Here's a constable in San Antonio lending a hand . . . <br /><br />http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Constable-arrested-during-adult-video-theater-bust/LFBuXi8PAE2aQYgYB9xktg.cspxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64473467432932940022009-10-28T00:49:02.389-05:002009-10-28T00:49:02.389-05:00Bottom line here, constables are peace officers as...Bottom line here, constables are peace officers as definded by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the office is a constitutionally created office.<br /><br />10/27/2009 06:27:00 PM<br />==================================<br />Bottom line HERE...PUT THEM OUT OF OFFICE. UNTRAINED MORONS PLAYING POLICE.Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83296363389814759502009-10-28T00:45:19.351-05:002009-10-28T00:45:19.351-05:00Constables are a JOKE. Just another layer in law e...Constables are a JOKE. Just another layer in law enforcement bureaucracy that is truly out control. Go evict deadbeats and leave traffic enforcement to the real police. Idiots!Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50726986102258708592009-10-28T00:03:45.611-05:002009-10-28T00:03:45.611-05:00Dear John,
Hate to break the news to you but the ...Dear John,<br /><br />Hate to break the news to you but the constables of Harris County are supported and funded by the Republicans of the Commissioners Court, the largest constable offices in Radack's and Eversole's districts. And they are doing it at the expense of the Sheriff's funding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4173387633617075822009-10-27T20:01:19.091-05:002009-10-27T20:01:19.091-05:00John: Because Republicans like you also created t...John: Because Republicans like you also created the Department of Homeland Security.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-74708593025350332392009-10-27T19:34:25.234-05:002009-10-27T19:34:25.234-05:00"Sy Shamsie, an attorney in The Woodlands nea..."Sy Shamsie, an attorney in The Woodlands near Houston, recently found out about deferred dispositions after he was ticketed in Dallas County by a deputy constable. The deferred disposition, he said, provides an incentive not to fight a ticket. He said he believes that collecting money, not public safety, is the intent."<br /><br />Deferred disposition intent is to keep your insurance rate down. Deferred dispositions do not appear on your driving record.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com