Post by Tim Collins on Dec 21, 2008 8:31:05 GMT -7
I have to admit my basic ignorance on the role of the Constables in El Paso, however I have learned quite a bit from listening to Constables Gammon and Sommers. Personally, I am starting to think that they do serve a role in our community, but that role is not understood by most citizens. Any thoughts?
www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_11279557
Constables do much for community, yet battle wave of negativity
Rick Gammon / Guest columnist
Article Launched: 12/21/2008 12:00:00 AM MST
The other day, I received a call from a city employee who wanted to let me know how "kind, polite, and courteous" one of my deputies had been in helping her and her son clear up some outstanding warrants.
I explained to her that I am trying my best to instill those words into daily operational philosophy, and was pleased to hear the positive feedback.
And that's exactly the point that gets lost amongst all of the negative press our county's constables have received over the years -- that for every scandal, for every accusation, for every negative media story or soundbite from our elected leaders, there are dozens upon dozens of positive stories, positive encounters and positive service to the county being provided by constables.
Constables in this county, on a routine or as-needed basis, assist the Sheriff's Office, El Paso Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Adult Probation, the Texas Attorney General and various other agencies, primarily in warrant service or civil-process matters, on top of our commitments to our respective justices of the peace.
We give back to our communities; we've helped build playgrounds, volunteered manual labor to complete the county's self-help centers, and from time to time even take on the task of providing clothing or food to our county's needy on a case-by-case basis.
We help people.
Whether it's taking care of citizens' pending criminal matters, or helping the civil-justice system through its courses, our services are of tremendous benefit to our legal system and the greater public it serves.
We train.
Speaking only for my precinct, I have increased training five-fold for myself and my deputies, as compared to previous constables.
We are training not only at the Sheriff's Academy, but also with premier training facilities such as the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), at Sam Houston State University.
My office already has one graduate of the LEMIT 100-hour Constable Leadership College, and has another member currently attending.
Most recently, I received a letter of acceptance to LEMIT's Leadership Command College, a 480-hour course over two years that trains the best and brightest police leaders in the state. Incoming El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles is but one of several El Paso-area graduates of the LCC.
I am most proud of our record of training during my tenure.
In short, every law-enforcement agency under the sun has its problems and problem employees, and this is indisputable. But to call for the abolishment of constables, or to continue to "keep them in their place" is counterproductive.
Instead, we should be looking to our counterparts in the Sheriff's Office and the El Paso PD to open the lines of communication, cooperation, joint training, and support, as well as getting our constituents involved in our elections process.
Negativity only breeds more negativity; let's sit down together, resolve our differences, and work together toward our common goals in the best interest of our legal system and our constituents.
Rick Gammon is the constable for Precinct 2, covering Northeast El Paso. He is a certified Public Information Officer and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.
www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_11279557
Constables do much for community, yet battle wave of negativity
Rick Gammon / Guest columnist
Article Launched: 12/21/2008 12:00:00 AM MST
The other day, I received a call from a city employee who wanted to let me know how "kind, polite, and courteous" one of my deputies had been in helping her and her son clear up some outstanding warrants.
I explained to her that I am trying my best to instill those words into daily operational philosophy, and was pleased to hear the positive feedback.
And that's exactly the point that gets lost amongst all of the negative press our county's constables have received over the years -- that for every scandal, for every accusation, for every negative media story or soundbite from our elected leaders, there are dozens upon dozens of positive stories, positive encounters and positive service to the county being provided by constables.
Constables in this county, on a routine or as-needed basis, assist the Sheriff's Office, El Paso Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Adult Probation, the Texas Attorney General and various other agencies, primarily in warrant service or civil-process matters, on top of our commitments to our respective justices of the peace.
We give back to our communities; we've helped build playgrounds, volunteered manual labor to complete the county's self-help centers, and from time to time even take on the task of providing clothing or food to our county's needy on a case-by-case basis.
We help people.
Whether it's taking care of citizens' pending criminal matters, or helping the civil-justice system through its courses, our services are of tremendous benefit to our legal system and the greater public it serves.
We train.
Speaking only for my precinct, I have increased training five-fold for myself and my deputies, as compared to previous constables.
We are training not only at the Sheriff's Academy, but also with premier training facilities such as the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT), at Sam Houston State University.
My office already has one graduate of the LEMIT 100-hour Constable Leadership College, and has another member currently attending.
Most recently, I received a letter of acceptance to LEMIT's Leadership Command College, a 480-hour course over two years that trains the best and brightest police leaders in the state. Incoming El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles is but one of several El Paso-area graduates of the LCC.
I am most proud of our record of training during my tenure.
In short, every law-enforcement agency under the sun has its problems and problem employees, and this is indisputable. But to call for the abolishment of constables, or to continue to "keep them in their place" is counterproductive.
Instead, we should be looking to our counterparts in the Sheriff's Office and the El Paso PD to open the lines of communication, cooperation, joint training, and support, as well as getting our constituents involved in our elections process.
Negativity only breeds more negativity; let's sit down together, resolve our differences, and work together toward our common goals in the best interest of our legal system and our constituents.
Rick Gammon is the constable for Precinct 2, covering Northeast El Paso. He is a certified Public Information Officer and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration.