Constables are locally-elected officials, but they are independent of any direction from any local government and carry out their duties according to the dictates of the laws under which they operate.
1 Constables are charged with conservation of the peace and are not employees of the commonwealth, the judiciary, the municipality or the county in which they work. Instead, they are independent contractors.
2 Courts have held constables to be related staff of the judicial system (officers whose functions aid the judicial process), but not personnel entitled to costs of legal defense in matters relating to the conduct of their office.
3 Election and Term of Office: The term of a constable in cities of the second class, second class A and third class, boroughs, towns and townships is six years.4 In cities of the second and third class, a constable is elected in each ward.
5 In boroughs divided into wards, a constable is elected in each ward and a high constable is elected by the entire borough.
6 A second constable may be elected in townships of the first class.
7 Qualifications: All constables, in order to be able to discharge the duties of office and collect fees, must be certified after completion of a training program.
8 The Constables' Education and Training Board determines the content of the program.
9 It must include a minimum of 80 hours of basic training and 40 hours of continuing education courses annually.
10 To maintain certification, constables are required to furnish proof of professional liability insurance coverage.
11 In townships, they must also give a bond of not less than $500 nor more than $3,000; the amount is set by the court of common pleas.
12 To carry and use firearms, constables must be certified under an approved firearms program.