Pennsylvania state constable

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

just wanted to see if any Pennsylvania state constable or anyone have information on what radio or what system the Pennsylvania state constable use I'm looking for in Allegheny County or Pittsburgh area but would love to know what other parts of the state use. i seen a constable in Pittsburgh have a radio just wanted to see if there was a call sign.

 

[jtwalker]

If a constable has a radio, it is likely on the system used by their home county. Adams County will provide constables a radio on SCIN (used by Adams, Franklin, Dauphin and I believe soon Cumberland), but constables have to pay for the maintenance charges.

Constables don’t have any radio system of their own.

 

[SurgePGH]

Fayette County Constables have a Talk Group on the ICORRS System that they can use.

 

[trentbob]

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania the constables are on the phase 2 County system with their own designator prefix followed by the unit number. They are on a particular Zone that they are operating in or on countywide which is shared by the Sheriff's Department, County Park Rangers, State Park Rangers who also have their own system, State and County probation and parole officers. State Police and FBI also have designators for the county system even though they have their own systems.

All of the police tg's in Bucks County are now totally encrypted as are the state police.

 

[HM1529]

Even though they are referred to as "Pennsylvania State Constables", they are not an enforcement arm of any particular state agency. They are locally elected positions and serve functions related to the PA magisterial court system (lower level courts in PA...also known as district justices) with some ovesight by the higher Common Pleas Courts. Constables typically serve papers for the local DJ in the district where they were elected, but they don't work for the court directly. It is a weird and acrhaic vestige of the past that continues on to this day.

There are over 1,200 constables, or their deputies, doing work across the state. In my mind, to associate them as a "state level" entity is a bit of a misnomer. They are locally elected and typically work in a limited area. As such, there is no state radio system for them...as others have pointed out, they get on local radio systems where they can, if they can.

I'm sure there are plenty of fine constables, but members of that club have a reputation for getting themselves into trouble through misrepresenting themselves or their authority.

 

[HM1529]

Ha. I learned something new today. Constables can also arrest people for trespassing on forest lands in PA and can sell off confiscated escaped cattle. More proof that the office has out lived its usefulness.

§ 7155. Arrest of offenders against forest laws.

If a person is detected by a constable in the act of trespassing upon any forest or timber land within this Commonwealth, under circumstances as to warrant reasonable suspicion that the person has, is or may commit an offense against any law for the protection of forests and timber land, the constable may, without first procuring a warrant, arrest the person.

Title 44 Chapter 71 - The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

www.legis.state.pa.us

 

[trentbob]

Even though they are referred to as "Pennsylvania State Constables", they are not an enforcement arm of any particular state agency. They are locally elected positions and serve functions related to the PA magisterial court system (lower level courts in PA...also known as district justices) with some ovesight by the higher Common Pleas Courts. Constables typically serve papers for the local DJ in the district where they were elected, but they don't work for the court directly. It is a weird and acrhaic vestige of the past that continues on to this day.

There are over 1,200 constables, or their deputies, doing work across the state. In my mind, to associate them as a "state level" entity is a bit of a misnomer. They are locally elected and typically work in a limited area. As such, there is no state radio system for them...as others have pointed out, they get on local radio systems where they can, if they can.

I'm sure there are plenty of fine constables, but members of that club have a reputation for getting themselves into trouble through misrepresenting themselves or their authority.

Indeed they do. There have been a few notorious ones in my County including sexual assault on a child with a baton.

My understanding is they are paid by the job they do and I believe they are allowed to hire their own help and give them a gun and badge LOL. It is indeed an odd system but the constables in my area are pretty reputable, I don't know about the election process but it's very local and confined to a small area, that's a horse of a different color but they serve eviction notices and transport prisoners.

That was the kind of radio traffic I would hear before we were encrypted. Especially transmissions regarding transporting a prisoner, I think the radios are for a safety issue more than anything.

 

[mule1075]

just wanted to see if any Pennsylvania state constable or anyone have information on what radio or what system the Pennsylvania state constable use I'm looking for in Allegheny County or Pittsburgh area but would love to know what other parts of the state use. i seen a constable in Pittsburgh have a radio just wanted to see if there was a call sign.

Washington County constables have been heard on the respective PD zone depending on where they are. Don't here them often though anymore.

 

[jtwalker]

Indeed they do. There have been a few notorious ones in my County including sexual assault on a child with a baton.

My understanding is they are paid by the job they do and I believe they are allowed to hire their own help and give them a gun and badge LOL. It is indeed an odd system but the constables in my area are pretty reputable, I don't know about the election process but it's very local and confined to a small area, that's a horse of a different color but they serve eviction notices and transport prisoners.

That was the kind of radio traffic I would hear before we were encrypted. Especially transmissions regarding transporting a prisoner, I think the radios are for a safety issue more than anything.

Not allowed to hire their own deputies and give them a gun and badge. They can request to presiding judge that a deputy be appointed because of more work than they can handle alone. If PJ agrees, he can appoint a deputy who must then go thru initial training before they buy their own badge, gun and vehicle. Oh, and buy their bond and pay their liability insurance.

 

[trentbob]

Not allowed to hire their own deputies and give them a gun and badge. They can request to presiding judge that a deputy be appointed because of more work than they can handle alone. If PJ agrees, he can appoint a deputy who must then go thru initial training before they buy their own badge, gun and vehicle. Oh, and buy their bond and pay their liability insurance.

Yep I'm reading that right now. I know there had to be some kind of training obviously, I know in my local area there are deputies. It's interesting that they're not required to have a license to carry a gun, they have the authority as a peace officer. They are responsible for election security and protection of polling places, I've never seen one at a polling place. They also provide protection for local district justices courtrooms.

Very interesting reading, you learn something new everyday.

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

A Pennsylvania State Constable is an office held in Pennsylvania. It is the constable's job to enforce the law and carry it out, just the same as the job of district attorneys, sheriffs and the police (see Ant 147 of 1990, 528 Pa., at470, 598 A.2d 9S5).

Pennsylvania constables have the right in Pennsylvania to arrest by warrant and to conduct warrantless arrests for felonies and breaches of the peace, including warrantless arrests for felony violations of the drug laws (see Commonwealth v. Taylor, 450 Pa. Super. 583, 596, 677 A.2d 846,852 [Pa. 1996]) anywhere in the commonwealth. They also have statutory powers of arrest (see e.g. 32 P.S. S582; S3 P.S. §13349).

They are exempt from the need to have a carry license for their weapon 18 Pa.CS. § 6106.

Definition of a Pennsylvania Constable

A constable is an elected official and serves six-year terms.

Constables belong to the executive branch of government. As such, they are answerable to the governor of Pennsylvania. They perform services for the Pennsylvania Magisterial courts, but do not belong to the judicial branch.

In Pennsylvania, constables are peace officers. As such, they are also empowered to quell a disturbance of the peace. A disturbance of the peace in Pennsylvania is defined as an imminent threat or danger to persons or property. For example, if a constable observes a public brawl, then the constable may arrest the participants for breaching the peace. According to Pennsylvania common law, a citizen may also have a limited power of arrest commonly known as a citizen’s arrest for felonies committed in view, but they are not given the shroud of authority a constable, sheriff or other law enforcement officer is given.

Duties of a Constable

Protecting the Polls Constables are also charged by Pennsylvania statute with maintaining order at election polls and ensuring that no qualified elector is obstructed from voting. Constables are the only peace officers permitted at the polls on Election Day. In fact this duty is mandated upon constables; failure to protect the polls, or provide for their protection through appointed deputies, is punishable with a fine.

Working for the Courts Constables may serve the court, but are not required to. When serving the judiciary, constables may serve judicial process, writs, arrest warrants, levies and collect fines. These services are regulated by Act 49 of the Pennsylvania statutes. The constable is paid for these services by fees which are specified in the statutes, and paid by the defendant in criminal cases or the plaintiff in civil cases.

In some Pennsylvania counties, Constables provide courtroom security and transport prisoners. For example, Chester and Berks Counties use constables for prisoner transports and courtroom security.

Constables may also serve civil process. Unlike judicial services, civil process may be served by any able-bodied adult, and so does not require a constable. Constables or Sheriff's are required when enforcement of court orders is necessary.

Constable's can provide security for the local bail wick or any other security at any county level. Some constable's work for other county police to provide traffic control plus security at certain events.

TrainingConstables are required to complete Act 49 certification and training before performing any court duties, including execution of arrest warrants. In order to carry a firearm , Constables must complete the firearms-portion of Act 49 as well.

Discipline and RemovalA Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas judge may remove a constable for misfeasance, malfeasance, or acts of oppression. Malfeasance is defined as a breach of a positive statutory duty or of performing a discretionary act with an improper or corrupt motive. If a court finds that a constable committed misfeasance, malfeasance, or acts of oppression, the court may then find that the constable is unfit for office and remove him from office as constable.

Deputy ConstablesEach constable may, with approval of the President Judge in the county the constable is elected in, appoint deputies to work under his authority. Each deputy is given the same authority as the constable himself, but serves at the pleasure of the elected constable.

In order to have a deputy constable appointed, the constable must file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas and state the reasons a deputy is needed. A constable must show that a deputy constable is needed due to the volume of business or constable workload.

The constable may not seek appointment of a deputy constable in order to delegate all or most of his or her work to the deputy constable and must have a bona fide reason to appoint a deputy. However, a constable may appoint Election Day deputy constables to monitor polling places in their elected districts

THIS WAS COPY.

 

[jtwalker]

They (we) can carry a gun upon election/appointment but to carry while serving courts the constable has to have training, bond and insurance.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

I'm sure there are plenty of fine constables, but members of that club have a reputation for getting themselves into trouble through misrepresenting themselves or their authority.

🤷‍♂️

 

[JethrowJohnson]

Yep I'm reading that right now. I know there had to be some kind of training obviously, I know in my local area there are deputies. It's interesting that they're not required to have a license to carry a gun, they have the authority as a peace officer. They are responsible for election security and protection of polling places, I've never seen one at a polling place. They also provide protection for local district justices courtrooms.

Very interesting reading, you learn something new everyday.

Well where have they been?

 

[trentbob]

They (we) can carry a gun upon election/appointment but to carry while serving courts the constable has to have training, bond and insurance.

They would absolutely have to have act 46 training I would think. I was speaking tongue in cheek when I said that the Constable could give deputies a gun and a badge. I wonder how many judges deny a particular person that the Constable has picked or question the need the constable says he has.

Getting back to the radio side of it I would think if they are responsible for these duties it makes sense to be on the county system with a 24-hour staffed Radio Room and the ability to have emergency assistance if needed. I assume they're either lent the radios by the county or they purchase their own just like they do everything else including their car. Most of them in my area have vans in case they have numerous prisoners. I have never seen overheads on any of their vehicles and in my area all it says on the car is State Constable and a small emblem on the door.

Again I think a county radio with their own designator is imperative, I can't see them working without communication with an active dispatcher.

Well where have they been?

Haha, I've been voting in the same little Elementary School for decades and decades and I have never seen a constable.

The constable is responsible for the polling places and I have no doubt that the volunteers have the cell phone number of the constable and because they do have radios that are on the county system, they could be dispatched very quickly and I'm sure they have a couple deputies or the Constable himself doing roving patrols for the handful of polling places in their area.

If something goes wrong it's on the Constable as it is his responsibility.

The more I think about it LOL I do not think I would want to do that job without a radio directly connected with a dispatcher.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

They would absolutely have to have act 46 training I would think. I was speaking tongue in cheek when I said that the Constable could give deputies a gun and a badge. I wonder how many judges deny a particular person that the Constable has picked or question the need the constable says he has.

Getting back to the radio side of it I would think if they are responsible for these duties it makes sense to be on the county system with a 24-hour staffed Radio Room and the ability to have emergency assistance if needed. I assume they're either lent the radios by the county or they purchase their own just like they do everything else including their car. Most of them in my area have vans in case they have numerous prisoners. I have never seen overheads on any of their vehicles and in my area all it says on the car is State Constable and a small emblem on the door.

Again I think a county radio with their own designator is imperative, I can't see them working without communication with an active dispatcher.



Haha, I've been voting in the same little Elementary School for decades and decades and I have never seen a constable.

The constable is responsible for the polling places and I have no doubt that the volunteers have the cell phone number of the constable and because they do have radios that are on the county system, they could be dispatched very quickly and I'm sure they have a couple deputies or the Constable himself doing roving patrols for the handful of polling places in their area.

If something goes wrong it's on the Constable as it is his responsibility.

The more I think about it LOL I do not think I would want to do that job without a radio directly connected with a dispatcher.

Somebody probably talked em in to staying home. <Just kidding. idk. 🤷‍♂️

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

well since there so many more polling places then constable i can see people not seeing them at voting place

 

[JethrowJohnson]

well since there so many more polling places then constable i can see people not seeing them at voting place

Yeah I know. I was just joking around - sort of. But I guess I better also mention that any comments posted here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Devola Volunteer Fire Company. 👍

 

[trentbob]

Yeah I know. I was just joking around - sort of. But I guess I better also mention that any comments posted here are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Devola Volunteer Fire Company. 👍

Ah the Streisand Effect.. had you not posted your department then no one on RR would ever know you're affiliated with them. .

Just kidding you around, I couldn't help it, just ribbing you, I appreciate the disclaimer but you haven't said or done anything wrong LOL.

@PGHSCANNERWACKER1 I apologize for going OT on your thread, this has been very informative and enjoyable and I learned a lot today.. thanks, Bob.

 

[n3obl]

With regard to Allegheny county that was originally posted. They can request from the county to get a county level callsign. Usually they will come up on I believe either sheriff or PS1. Only come up on the police channel in area if need assistance.

They don't call out on what they are doing. Its only if they need assistance.