Historically, a constable could also refer to a castellan, the officer charged with the defence of a castle. Even today, there is a Constable of the Tower of London.
The voters of each Justice of the Peace and Constable Precinct elect the Constable every four years. It is the Constable’s duty to execute and return all process, warrants, summons and judgment enforcement documents as directed by lawful officials.
Constable definition: an officer of the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc.. See examples of CONSTABLE used in a sentence.
Sometimes, the people of a district or election precinct elect a constable. In other cases, local officials appoint them. Either way, constables usually serve relatively small, well-defined geographic areas and communities.
The role of a constable in the United States has historical roots as a local peacekeeper, traditionally enforcing orders in both civil and criminal matters. Today, their duties and jurisdiction vary significantly, often being more localized or specialized than police officers.
Whether you’re considering a career in law enforcement or simply curious about the distinctions between these two professions, this comprehensive guide will equip you with a thorough understanding of the constable vs. police officer dynamic.
Constable, officer of state in western European countries from medieval times and also of certain executive legal officials in Great Britain and the United States.
constable (third-person singular simple present constables, present participle constabling, simple past and past participle constabled) (intransitive, dated) To act as a constable or policeman.