MESA shuts down center township radios?

[speedway_navigator]

Center Township Constable’s Office shuts down services due to safety concerns

INDIANAPOLIS — A public safety controversy is brewing in Indianapolis’ Center Township after the local constable’s office announced a temporary suspension on evictions, lockouts and cou…

fox59.com

I wonder what legal authority they have, or think they have, to do this.

 

[west-pac]

If I was a radio geek living in a MESA area I would know the behind-the-scenes structure of MESA. I think MESA is probably in the right. There is likely a board that oversees MESA, similar to how IPSC oversees SAFE-T. Boards and Commissions have responsibilities and authorities bestowed upon them to make things run smooth, and I'm sure the-powers-that-be have the authority to add or remove any individual or agency from their radio system following due process.

I'm sure after ~15 minutes on Google anyone could know the backend of MESA, and what legal authorities they have over their radio system and it's users.

 

[AK9R]

"Section 281-101 of city-county ordinance establishes the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA). MESA is authorized by law and responsible for the operation and management of the following divisions for the City of Indianapolis & Marion County:

• Division of Emergency Communications – 911 Call Center
• Division of Emergency Management
• Division of Public Safety Communications – Technology Infrastructure"

"Public Safety Communications (PSC) proudly serves your local emergency first responders. PSC manages Radio Systems, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), 9-1-1 Telephone Systems, Police and Fire Records, and a Safety Data Network. PSC supports public safety and public service agencies in Marion County through its data networks."

I don't see any mention of a board or committee that deals with MESA issues or governance. I will ass-u-me that MESA falls under the City-County Council's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee.

 

[dave3825]

So unless I missed it, story does not mention why the agency was kicked off the radio system. Why? What was the reason?

 

[buddrousa]

So it sounds like a DEPUTY was charged and convicted and was still aloud to work as the article said DEPUTY not FORMER DEPUTY.
That might be the problem.
The suspension of services comes after Deputy Constable Craig Regans was arrested earlier this month and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of domestic battery.

 

[west-pac]

"Section 281-101 of city-county ordinance establishes the Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA). MESA is authorized by law and responsible for the operation and management of the following divisions for the City of Indianapolis & Marion County:

• Division of Emergency Communications – 911 Call Center
• Division of Emergency Management
• Division of Public Safety Communications – Technology Infrastructure"

"Public Safety Communications (PSC) proudly serves your local emergency first responders. PSC manages Radio Systems, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), 9-1-1 Telephone Systems, Police and Fire Records, and a Safety Data Network. PSC supports public safety and public service agencies in Marion County through its data networks."

I don't see any mention of a board or committee that deals with MESA issues or governance. I will ass-u-me that MESA falls under the City-County Council's Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee.

Dig deeper. That's the public definition of "What is MESA?".

Try to find: "Who is MESA", and their SOPs, SOGs, protocols, meeting minutes, etc.. They are their own agency, it says so right in the name.

 

[ecps92]

Center Township Constable’s Office shuts down services due to safety concerns

INDIANAPOLIS — A public safety controversy is brewing in Indianapolis’ Center Township after the local constable’s office announced a temporary suspension on evictions, lockouts and cou…

fox59.com

I wonder what legal authority they have, or think they have, to do this.

Most states that I've worked with a Constable (excluding Canada) is a Civil Process Server and generally has no Law Enforcement Authority.

 

[cavmedic]

Many Constables in PA are not authorized to use their respective Counties radios system. Montgomery County is one of them. We did evictions, warrants, civil process, court security, prisoner transports and election poll location security without comms to County.
The Powers to be stated, " Being elected officials and deemed independent contractors,, there was no one to hold you accountable for improper use of the radio"............... Was it safe, absolutely not, was it doable, yes

 

[IndyScan]

Most states that I've worked with a Constable (excluding Canada) is a Civil Process Server and generally has no Law Enforcement Authority.

I did some contracted IT work for CT years back & there was always some shady stuff going on there. The CFO stole a bunch of $ & was convicted & the guy running the place (I forget his name) drove a Marauder decked out with lights & siren & had no problem using them to his advantage while traveling...

 

[AK9R]

In Indiana, constables are primarily responsible for carrying out the orders of small claims courts which are generally organized by township (Indiana has counties, townships, and cities/towns). The definition of "constable" in Indiana may or may not conform to the definition in other jurisdictions.

The Center Township Constable was in the news earlier this year as a result of an altercation between the constable and an IMPD officer. Allegedly, the Center Township Small Claims Court had issued an eviction order against a renter, the Constable had failed to serve the order believing a stay of the order had been issued by the Court (the stay was denied), so the property owner hired an off-duty IMPD officer to serve the order, and the Constable interfered. The Court then held a hearing to determine whether or not the Constable should be charged with contempt of court for not serving the Court's order. The Constable was asked by the Court to swear an oath in court saying that she would carry out the Court's orders.

What impact all of this should have on the Constable's ability to use a MESA radio, I don't know. Maybe there have been other incidents...like this:

So it sounds like a DEPUTY was charged and convicted and was still aloud to work as the article said DEPUTY not FORMER DEPUTY.
That might be the problem.
The suspension of services comes after Deputy Constable Craig Regans was arrested earlier this month and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of domestic battery.

That's Deputy Constable, not a Sheriff's Deputy. In Indiana, constables are not law enforcement officers.

In the end, there's really not much here that pertains to scanner listeners or radio monitors.

 

[mmckenna]

That's Deputy Constable, not a Sheriff's Deputy. In Indiana, constables are not law enforcement officers.

We don't have such a thing out West here.

But it sounds like the constables are not "sworn officers".

I could totally see an actual law enforcement agency putting their collective foot down on shenanigans like this. If their constables can't follow the laws, they don't belong on a public safety radio system.

Gotta say I'd be tempted to do the same thing.

 

[west-pac]

We don't have such a thing out West here.

Outside of this Indianapolis/Marion county group that has been in the news this year, I've never heard of them in Indiana either.

They might be allowed by law in Indiana, but I'm guessing most are non-existent, absorbed by law enforcement, and/or definitely not called "constables". In my area of northeast Indiana evictions are served by the county Sheriff's Dept.

 

[mmckenna]

OK, yeah, seems like an odd setup.

Sounds like the guy had a record, and was continuing to display an accute case of the stupids. Said agency should have been watching their own guys a lot better. Background checks, training, more background checks. Apparent that the constable group wasn't taking things seriously. I could totally see why a legit law enforcement agency wouldn't want people like this on their system. It appears they don't have the level of responsibility necessary.

If a police officer had done all this, I'd bet most large agencies would have dropped them.

 

[INDaviation]

I haven't seen Constables outside of the 9 townships here in Marion County. I've only heard Wayne Township Constable on the radio, and they were using MET-NW1.

 

[speedway_navigator]

I think Marion county may be the last one to have them. A friend of mine in Speedway was one. We have magistrates in Hendricks county who take the place of small claims court judges in Marion county, just found that out when one of ours spoke at a breakfast meeting this week.

Greenwood PD made the news in the last month or so with an officer resigning before appearing at hearings over conduct, I'm not aware of SAFE-T shutting down their access.