Con´sta`ble Pronunciation: kǒn´stå`b'l or kŭn´stå`b'l
CONSTABLE. An officer, who is generally elected by the people.
2. He possess power, virture officii, as a conservator of the peace at
common law, and by virtue of various legislative enactments; he. way
therefore apprehend a supposed offender without a warrant, as treason,
felony, breach of the peace, and for some misdemeanors less than felony,
when committed in his view. 1 Hale, 587; 1 East, P. C. 303 8 Serg. & Rawle,
47. He may also arrest a supposed offender upon the information of others
but he does so at his peril, unless he can show that a felony has been
committed by some person, as well as the reasonableness of the suspicion
that the party arrested is guilty. 1 Chit. Cr. L. 27; 6 Binn. R. 316; 2
Hale, 91, 92 1 East, P. C. 301. He has power to call others to his
assistance; or he may appoint a deputy to do ministerial acts. 3 Burr. Rep.
3. A constable is also a ministerial officer, bound to obey the
warrants and precepts of justices, coroners, and sheriffs. Constables are
also in some states bound to execute the warrants and process of justices of
the peace in civil cases.
4. In England, they have many officers, with more or less power, who
bear the name of constables; as, lord high constable of England, high
constable 3 Burr. 1262 head constables, petty constables, constables of
castles, constables of the tower, constables of the fees, constable of the
exchequer, constable of the staple, &c.
5. In some of the cities of the United States there are officers who
are called high constables, who are the principal police officers where they
reside. Vide the various Digests of American Law, h.t.; 1 Chit. Cr. L. 20;
5 Vin. Ab. 427; 2 Phil. Ev. 253 2 Sell. Pr. 70; Bac. Ab. h.t.; Com. Dig.
Justices of the Peace, B 79; Id. D 7; Id, Officer, E 2; Wille. Off. Const.
, John Law
, bound bailiff
, chief of police
, deputy sheriff
, government man
, mounted policeman
, peace officer
, police captain
, police commissioner
, police constable
, police inspector
, police matron
, police officer
, police sergeant
, sergeant at arms