The first step in what appears to be a long process in abolishing constables in Roane
County was taken Thursday night.
A resolution that would ask the county’s legislative delegation to give the commission
the power to abolish or control the police powers of constables was passed
unanimously by the legislative liaison committee.
The request can be made to state Sen. Tommy Kilby and state Rep. Dennis Ferguson,
County Commission Chairman Troy Beets said, by a majority vote of the county
commission.
“I’m going to vote to go ahead and do this to see if we can’t get the power back,”
Commissioner Chris Johnson said. “This does not mean that I have committed one
way or another of doing away with constables. I just think the right thing to do is to
allow the full commission to have their say.”
The controversy over the constable position started this past August. Former
constable Mark Patton was at the center of the firestorm after allega-tions arose that he
was using the position to harass off-duty police officers and intimidate residents.
Seventh District Constable L.K. “Butch” Barding attended Thursday night’s meeting to
speak up for constables.
“Would we be here discussing this if it wasn’t for Mr. Patton?” Barding asked.
Beets said perhaps not, but he also countered Barding’s argument, saying if the
Tennessee Constable Council had sought to rein in Patton sooner, the discussion
probably wouldn’t be taking place, either.
“The thing with Mr. Patton went on for a long time,” Beets said. “There was a lot of
problems with Mr. Patton, and only until we sat in this room right here with the district
attorney general and the district attorney general laid out his edict, did the constables
take action. This was after you guys knew of Mr. Patton’s thing.”
In response to the Patton controversy, District Attorney General Russell Johnson
instructed members of his office not to proceed in court on cita-tions and warrants
written by constables.
Patton was eventually relieved from his position with the constable council, Barding
said.
Commissioner David Olsen brought up the idea of eliminating constables at last month’
s commission meeting.
Constables are elected by voters in the districts they serve. They have full policing
powers. Olsen said the police powers disturb him.
“I look upon the sheriff and the city police chiefs as the law enforcement arm of Roane
County,” Olsen said. “I find it confusing and unsatisfying and a potential source of
great trouble that there are other elected officials in the county who have law-
enforcement capabilities.”
Beets said he is trying to get the resolution ready so it can be voted on at Monday
night’s county commission meeting.
The commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.
Sourced: Roane Newspapers
County was taken Thursday night.
A resolution that would ask the county’s legislative delegation to give the commission
the power to abolish or control the police powers of constables was passed
unanimously by the legislative liaison committee.
The request can be made to state Sen. Tommy Kilby and state Rep. Dennis Ferguson,
County Commission Chairman Troy Beets said, by a majority vote of the county
commission.
“I’m going to vote to go ahead and do this to see if we can’t get the power back,”
Commissioner Chris Johnson said. “This does not mean that I have committed one
way or another of doing away with constables. I just think the right thing to do is to
allow the full commission to have their say.”
The controversy over the constable position started this past August. Former
constable Mark Patton was at the center of the firestorm after allega-tions arose that he
was using the position to harass off-duty police officers and intimidate residents.
Seventh District Constable L.K. “Butch” Barding attended Thursday night’s meeting to
speak up for constables.
“Would we be here discussing this if it wasn’t for Mr. Patton?” Barding asked.
Beets said perhaps not, but he also countered Barding’s argument, saying if the
Tennessee Constable Council had sought to rein in Patton sooner, the discussion
probably wouldn’t be taking place, either.
“The thing with Mr. Patton went on for a long time,” Beets said. “There was a lot of
problems with Mr. Patton, and only until we sat in this room right here with the district
attorney general and the district attorney general laid out his edict, did the constables
take action. This was after you guys knew of Mr. Patton’s thing.”
In response to the Patton controversy, District Attorney General Russell Johnson
instructed members of his office not to proceed in court on cita-tions and warrants
written by constables.
Patton was eventually relieved from his position with the constable council, Barding
said.
Commissioner David Olsen brought up the idea of eliminating constables at last month’
s commission meeting.
Constables are elected by voters in the districts they serve. They have full policing
powers. Olsen said the police powers disturb him.
“I look upon the sheriff and the city police chiefs as the law enforcement arm of Roane
County,” Olsen said. “I find it confusing and unsatisfying and a potential source of
great trouble that there are other elected officials in the county who have law-
enforcement capabilities.”
Beets said he is trying to get the resolution ready so it can be voted on at Monday
night’s county commission meeting.
The commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.
Sourced: Roane Newspapers
| Committee asks county to seek power over constables By DAMON LAWRENCE |
| The Rhea County Newspaper |
| "Rhea County's REAL Information Source" |
