As the pursuit entered Hardin County, it was discovered that Joseph Ramey, 29, was also involved in the pursuit. Ramey is a constable in Barren County.
He was driving a Honda Odyssey van with green and amber emergency lights with a “five-point star” with “Kentucky Constable” written on the side of the vehicle.
In Kentucky, Constables are elected. They mostly serve papers, help transporting prisoners, but do have full LEO powers. Goes to the head of some of them. They also have the statutory authority to shoot rabid dogs and distempered mules.
ReplyDeleteThey are also paid very little base pay but get a commission for serving papers and transporting prisoners. They also have to provide for their own cars, equipment, and uniforms.
DeleteThe sheriffs departments compete with them for the monies from serving papers so there is generally bad blood between the two groups.
DeleteConstables exist in some TN counties as well. I read some where that the constables were the only folks allowed to arrest a sheriff, but that may be BS that the article was promoting. When I lived in Texas, the counties I lived in had formal constable offices and HOA's could contract with those offices to get dedicated officers. I have a funny story about that, but it is a tad long for a blog comment.
ReplyDeleteI remember a couple of constables around Robertson county when I was younger. Always struck me as wannabees who didn't have the fortitude to join the force, but wanted a badge to flash. I could be wrong, they may have been the equivalent of volunteer firefighters, helping the community. Lord knows our rural county never had a large budget for LE operations.
ReplyDeleteOf course, now the two nearest small towns to me (<3k population each) each have MRAPS, and the county seat has several, and more ex-.mil equipment. Fuck 'em. They no longer much serve nor protect.
--Tennessee Budd