How much authority does a constable have?

fastfredracing · 02-03-2011, 03:55 PM

Must have been some bad guys in my building before I bought it. I have been there for almost 9 years now, and today was at least the fourth time that a sheriff or constable came in looking for someone.
The guy today was a total asshat. He comes in the door and does not identify himself, is not in uniform, and I can see no badge. He asks me if I am so and so. I told him no, and that I had never heard of that person. He asks me who I am . I told him I own the business, who the hell are you? I did not really appreciate a complete stranger walking in to my place and grilling me. He still does not tell me he is a constable, but he says he has a warrant for this person, . I tell him again, that is not me, and I don't know the person he is looking for. He asks me if he can see some ID. I did show it to him, but what I really wanted to do was show this arsehole the door. He saw that I was not who he was looking for, thanked me and walked out the door.
Do constables have the same power as leo?. Did I need to comply with his commands. Hey I know these guys don't have the easiest job, but I was a little put off by his attitude.

Fishman7 · 02-03-2011, 04:00 PM

All law enforcement have to much power in my book, the last constable I had to speak to had about the same attitude......and no he wasn't looking for me.

Gogar · 02-03-2011, 04:15 PM

If he is LEO, he is required to identify himself as such.

You are not required (in Pennsylvania) to identify yourself AT ALL in a casual inquiry by police. Not to produce identification. Nothing.

If you didn't see police ID, I seriously doubt the guy was LEO at all.

I'm unfamiliar with the diff re: Constable vs. LEO so you'd have to clue me into that.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

You certainly don't have to identify yourself for some stranger and that's all a cop is until he shows a badge or says he's a cop. And in many states, you don't even have to show ID to a cop unless you're operating a vehicle. Not sure if PA has a stop and ID law.

TimT · 02-03-2011, 04:18 PM

Never volunteer info..although say I am not so and so isn't volunteering info..

When he started asking questions, you should have asked for his ID and credentials.

Told him to beat feet if you were not satisfied with his creds..

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

... He comes in the door and does not identify himself, is not in uniform, and I can see no badge. He asks me if I am so and so. ...

You should immediately ignore his question and say "Who are you?" Immediately follow up with "Why are you in my bldg.?"

Dial 911 or bldg. security and tell them there is an intruder in your office/the bldg. - extra points if he sees you / hears you dialing & talking.

--------------------------------------------------

What to do now?

Write a polite but firm letter documenting this with specifics - time date, etc.

Facts only.

Last paragraph, ask why he did not ID himself, note that there have been a number of LEOs there recently and you wonder if he was an impersonator that the LEOS might have been looking for.

Send a copy to the elected officials that oversee 'constables'

vash · vash's Garage

i am polite to all of law enforcement..

well, except the mall cop.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

i am polite to all of law enforcement..

I am too. But he's not an LEO until he ID's himself as such and I'm not polite to strangers who demand my ID.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I am too. But he's not an LEO until he ID's himself as such and I'm not polite to strangers who demand my ID.

that's right. i still kick myself for my youth. i was maybe 17-18. some idiot pulls me over for "looking too young" he asked for my ID, and told me he was a cop. i should have given him the finger until he showed me his ID. but i was an idiot and still showed him mine.

i will never forget that...lesson learned. my mom's cop friend read me the riot act..no id, not a cop.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

My roommate had gone to Cuba in about 1965. He lived in my Apt for about 6 months after he came back and then went on with his life. FBI came by every year to ask about him ( for some reason they could keep track of me but not him

). The same guy came for about 5 years and he was always polite. Then a new guy started showing up, a real jerk. The second year he came I refused to show him my ID. He let it pass and left. Haven't heard from the FBI since.

fastfredracing · 02-03-2011, 05:05 PM

Me too Vash, I have no problem with the Police. If I am stopped, it is always yes sir , no sir, I get along with all of the local police, etc.. This guy was clearly not a cop, and bursted into my work day like a bull in a china shop. If he would have identified himself first, the whole thing would have played out different. Hell, I would have been happy to help the guy out, probably would even offered him a soda or something but, no respect to me, then no respect to you.

Hugh R · 02-03-2011, 05:21 PM

Are you sure he wasn't just a bail recovery guy? Sounds like it. I don't think they have any rights to go into your place. OTOH, if he was, in most states he doesn't need a warrant for bail recovery IF he's in the right place.

Brando · Brando's Garage

Without there being "eminent danger", probably cause (of a crime) or Reasonable Articulate Suspicion (that you have committed a crime) I don't believe their authority to even demand such or even question you. You ask them to leave, they gotta. They decline... Call the local office and tell them you're being harassed by an officer without a warrant.

I guess your first question should have been "Are you an officer?" Then asked to see his ID. No Warrant? "I've answered your questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Must have been some bad guys in my building before I bought it. I have been there for almost 9 years now, and today was at least the fourth time that a sheriff or constable came in looking for someone.
The guy today was a total asshat. He comes in the door and does not identify himself, is not in uniform, and I can see no badge. He asks me if I am so and so. I told him no, and that I had never heard of that person. He asks me who I am . I told him I own the business, who the hell are you? I did not really appreciate a complete stranger walking in to my place and grilling me. He still does not tell me he is a constable, but he says he has a warrant for this person, . I tell him again, that is not me, and I don't know the person he is looking for. He asks me if he can see some ID. I did show it to him, but what I really wanted to do was show this arsehole the door. He saw that I was not who he was looking for, thanked me and walked out the door.
Do constables have the same power as leo?. Did I need to comply with his commands. Hey I know these guys don't have the easiest job, but I was a little put off by his attitude.

Bill Douglas · 02-03-2011, 11:31 PM

Ha, I was tracking down a guy once and the clues lead to a business address. I kinda burst in and started asking questions in a very agressive manner. It had them on the back foot and a hip young 20 something girl said "Are you like a private investigator?" I answered "yes" because at that moment I was like a private investigator, but certainly was not one.

So don't believe anyone if they come bursting through the door.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

...a hip young 20 something girl said "Are you like a private investigator?" I answered "yes" because at that moment I was like a private investigator, but certainly was not one.

Very funny!

Gogar · 02-04-2011, 06:37 AM

Did he look like this, brah?

fastfredracing · 02-04-2011, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gogar

Did he look like this, brah?

That's him!. He was even willing to let me have a smoke before he locked me up. Maybe it was a bail bondsman. I have a customer who is a constable, he is a super nice mild mannered guy, and his badge and gun are always present . Was not the case with this clown. The whole affair did kind of have the feel of a dog the bounty hunter episode.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

What states/localities have "constables"? I'm not familiar with that term for law enforcement types...

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

He is in Pa., which has all sorts of weird offices - they have townships all over the place and each one has a township cop.

NY state also has some really messed little local courts - I think the NY State legislature or AG was trying to reform them or shut them down - there was an article in the NYT a few months ago on this.

my guess is that these things are relics of ancient British settlers and mostly in fomer colonies

of course, La. has a lot of relics of ancient French law - they still have parish police juries, and some of the the Code Napoleon still survives, according to attys there.

wreckersteve · 02-04-2011, 12:06 PM

In PA a constable has the same power as police. I have a very close friend who is one. I do think that guy was way out of line doing what he did. I would file a complaint about his behavior. He should have id himself first. Walking into a shop and just asking questions with out doing so is not a safe way to go. When working my buddy is in uniform. But these guys are sort of lone wolf and can get appointed pretty easy, so there is some real wackos