Town Constables

[Paranoia_Agent]

Ive seen that some towns and villages upstate employ "Constables". Outside of LI and the NYC metro area, what functions do Constables perform in the towns and villages upstate that still employ constables?

[SlowDownThere]

They enfore local codes, such as leash laws, rental codes, etc.

[Jim1648]

In some states constables also perform civil process, like serving subpoenas, enforcing court orders, evictions, but I do not know if they do that in the State of New York.

[NYPDtoGrey]

They enfore local codes, such as leash laws, rental codes, etc.

In some counties, constables do regular police work.

[SlowDownThere]

In some counties, constables do regular police work.

I did not know that. I've never lived/worked in one of those counties.
Around here, they enforce local ordinances.

Some of our Towns have Police Departments, but they call there employees Police Officers.

[gbotj]

Long Island has a few

Patchogue Village Constables - Peace Officers
Village of Westhampton Dunes Police Constables - Peace Officers.

[Spec VVV]

Long Island has a few

Patchogue Village Constables - Peace Officers
Village of Westhampton Dunes Police Constables - Peace Officers.

Whats their pay? Armed?

[rpd86]

In New York State, constables are "peace officers", as defined in the CPL. They are restricted by geo-political jurisdiction and job duties. They can make warrantless arrests, may enforce civil law and perform court officer duties.

It all depends upon what their employer wants them to do. Some town/village constables are very active.

I am not aware of any "full-time" constables.

[Dinosaur32]

One limitation on Constables in NY is the police services contract the locality may have with the policing agency. For example, in the 5 western towns of Suffolk County, the SCPD is the law enforcement agency. If an incorporated village or a township wishes to provide their own general law enforcement they must opt out of the contract with SCPD and then would bear the full financial burden of providing the service. Specialized titles, such as Bay Constable or Code Enforcement, with limited areas of enforcement are not affected. Many Town or Village Public Safety or Constable departments are municipal security officers with no law enforcement authority.

[gbotj]

Dino- the loophole that all the County Police District contract is that no town/village or city can have a Full-Service Police Department along with SCPD. These villages created the Title "Police Constable" and as defined in CPL 2.10 sub 1 they are peace officers and can enforce all laws within the village they work for.

[Dinosaur32]

Then those governments must have opted out of the police service contract with SCPD. SCPD will not patrol any municipality that provides its own law enforcement agency.

[gbotj]

A village can have its own LE agency, the district contract states no 2 police departments can provide patrol coverage of the same village/town. A village can have sworn peace officers, but not police officers. If they had police officers they would have to give up county police.

[Dinosaur32]

As long as they do not provide any type of police service.

[nycop]

I am not aware of any "full-time" constables.


We have one in my area but he is responsible for court security as part of his duties.

[2971511]

Town of Hempstead has Bay Constables, Armed enforce fishing and boating regs,

[Dinosaur32]

All the Long Island towns have Bay Constables and Harbor Masters. Those titles are covered by different sub-sections of CPL 2.10. Their patrol area is limited to the Town's waters and waterfront facilities. They would not police the rest of the Town.

[ChrisF202]

All the Long Island towns have Bay Constables and Harbor Masters. Those titles are covered by different sub-sections of CPL 2.10. Their patrol area is limited to the Town's waters and waterfront facilities. They would not police the rest of the Town.
But they do. I have seen Town of Islip Harbor Police making traffic stops on Montauk Highway and I have seen Town of Islip Park Rangers do the same in various other locations around West Islip off of town property. I also seen Brightwaters Village and Babylon Village Code Enforcement (or whatever their title is in those villages) also making traffic stops. I also once saw Brightwaters officers go after a bunch of kids that were vandalizing the old West Islip movie theater/A&W-Long John Silver.

Quite frankly, as the few keep getting fewer and are not being replaced its time for the SCPD to get off the high horse and accept any help they can get. Rewrite the county charter and allow any incorporated village or township to maintain their own police department.

1.5 officers for 32,000 people is not a good ratio.

[Dinosaur32]

An occasional traffic stop for an infraction that happens in front of you is one thing, but if done on a regular sustained basis, SCPD will have something to say asbout it. That happened in one of thw western towns about 20 years ago and the issue was resolved in favor of the SCPD.

[Munlaw]

The Town of Pelham still has Constables...

http://www.townofpelham.com/townconstable/index.html

As does New Berlin, NY....

http://members.fortunecity.com/nypolicecars/nb.html

And Patchogue Village, NY...

http://members.fortunecity.com/nypolicecars/patch.html

[nycop]

[As does New Berlin, NY....

http://members.fortunecity.com/nypolicecars/nb.html

New Berlin, NY is now a police dept.

The Town of Oneonta has three constables, one being full time. They do almost everything that a Police Officer does.

[Munlaw]

[As does New Berlin, NY....

http://members.fortunecity.com/nypolicecars/nb.html

New Berlin, NY is now a police dept.

The Town of Oneonta has three constables, one being full time. They do almost everything that a Police Officer does.

Town of Oneonta Constables....Those are the officers that wear the burgundy neck-ties with a regular-style LEO uniform, right ?

The Town of Cambria in Niagara County still has a Constable..

[Munlaw]

Quite a few towns in Cattaraugus County such as Hinsdale, Freedom and Farmersville have constables as well...

[PeteBroccolo]

Sorry, WAY wrong area for me to post in!!

[nycop]

[QUOTE=Munlaw;1284539]Town of Oneonta Constables....Those are the officers that wear the burgundy neck-ties with a regular-style LEO uniform, right ?QUOTE]

Yes.