I will offer my experience, knowledge, and leadership from my time in the military as well as the county police in working with all residents of Boyd County. The office of Constable dates from Medieval England. Your Constable is an elected public official. The Constable is one of the only two remaining elected peace officers in the world. In Kentucky, the position of Constable was established in t
he 1850 Constitution. The present Constitution requires the election of one constable in each justice of the peace (known as a magistrate) district. Constables are Peace Officers with broad powers of arrest and authority to serve court processes. The Constable has the authority to enforce both the Traffic Code and the Criminal Code of Kentucky. They may execute warrants, summonses, subpoenas, attachments, notes, rules, and court orders in all criminal, penal and civil cases (KRS 70.350). The Kentucky Constitution, Section 106, Constables will possess the same qualification as the sheriffs and may exercise jurisdiction in any part of the county. (OAG 62-115 and 40-776). An elected Constable can not be barred from working in the city limits by a mayor, chief of police, or by the city council, but he/she must keep his office in the district in which they are elected (OAG 74-554). Constables are a fee's paid officers of the court. Constables are entitled to receive fees for all citations that they write and warrants they serve. Jurisdiction:
The Kentucky Constitution, Section 106, states, "Constables shall possess the same qualifications as Sheriffs, and their jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with the counties in which they reside. Qualifications:
Constables must be 24 years of age, a citizen of the state for two years, and a resident of the county and district one year prior to the election. Before taking office, constables must execute a bond at a minimum amount of $10,000, approved by the fiscal court. Peace officers in the state of Kentucky (general):
The sheriff and three other elected county officials--coroners, jailers, and constables--are peace officers possessing law enforcement powers (KRS 446.010). These powers include a broad grant of authority to make arrests. Under the authority of KRS 431.005, any peace officer may make an arrest:
(a) In obedience to a warrant;
(b) Without a warrant when a felony is committed in his presence;
(c) Without a warrant when he has probable cause to believe the person arrested has committed a felony;
(d) Without a warrant when a misdemeanor, as defined in KRS 431.060, has been committed in his presence; or
(e) Without a warrant when harassment, criminal trespass in the 3rd degree, and certain traffic violations are committed in his presence or if he has probable cause to believe that a person is driving under the influence of alcohol or any other substance which may impair his driving ability. Where a misdemeanor has been committed in an officer’s presence, he may issue a citation instead of making an arrest if he has reasonable grounds to believe the person cited will appear in court (KRS 431.015). Citations may be issued in lieu of a physical arrest for violations committed in the presence of an officer. The officer may make a physical arrest for a violation committed in his presence if he has reasonable grounds to believe the defendant will not appear at the required time or if the violation is one of the several set out above from KRS 431.005(1)(e). If the defendant does not appear, a warrant for his arrest may be issued (KRS 431.015). Offenses are either violations, misdemeanors, or felonies, depending on the nature and length of punishment that may be prescribed. These terms are defined in KRS 431.060. In addition to the instances cited above, certain peace officers, including sheriffs and full-time paid deputy sheriffs, may make warrantless arrests in some narrowly defined domestic abuse cases (KRS 431.005(2)). When in actual pursuit of a law violator, a peace officer may cross corporate or county lines to make an arrest (KRS 431.045). In actual practice, powers of arrest are exercised only by the sheriff and constable. Jailers and coroners rarely make arrests. The law explicitly authorizes sheriffs and constables to carry concealed deadly weapons when necessary for their protection in discharging their duties (KRS 527.020). Specific statutory duties devolve upon all peace officers. All peace officers must seize untaxed ci******es and notify the state commissioner of revenue that they have done so (KRS 138.165). Peace officers and deputy sheriffs must enforce all controlled substances laws (KRS 113 218A.240) and must arrest and return any children who have escaped from a reform institution (KRS 440.060). Upon request from the Kentucky Board of Agriculture, a peace officer must aid in destroying diseased livestock (KRS 246.210). Any Kentucky peace officer may destroy a suffering, abandoned, or diseased animal (KRS 257.100). He must also impound unlicensed dogs (KRS 285.215). A peace officer may order funds derived from the sale of an animal of questionable ownership held until ownership is established (KRS 253.070). Peace officers must enforce all truck weight limit and size laws (KRS 189.223). They must seize any automobile transporting alcoholic beverages in dry territory and make all necessary arrests (KRS 242.360). Peace officers must serve any subpoena issued by the state parole board (KRS 439.390). On being informed or having reason to believe that an unlawful professional prize fight or wrestling match is about to take place, peace officers must prevent the competition (KRS 229.240). All peace officers must cooperate with the Justice Cabinet to fingerprint and identify prisoners (KRS 17.115). A peace officer may arrest without a warrant any military personnel in his jurisdiction who has violated the military code of justice25 (KRS 35.035). Our dispatch center can be reached 24/7 at the number provided below. Federated Communications
Dispatch Center: (866) 332-0911
If you have an emergency, please dial 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY. Examples of things to call for:
• Civil Process
• Loitering
• Noise complaints
• Individuals trespassing
• Suspicious person/ vehicle
• Parking complaints
• Code enforcement
• Vacation/ Business checks
• Welfare checks
Callers can always remain anonymous. Tips can be emailed to
[email protected]
Thank you,
Richard L. VanHoose
Constable, District III
We are NOT a tax-supported agency. We pay for our vehicles, uniforms, gear, training, and office space at no cost to the county's residents. We value Community-Based Policing! Boyd County Constable’s Office, District III page:
Terms of Use (Please, read before posting.) We welcome you and your comments to the Boyd County Constable’s, District III page
Purpose of the Boyd County Constable’s Office, District III page:
1) To provide LOCAL citizens in Boyd County with information about government programs, services, and events.
2) To provide a LIMITED public forum for local citizens to share viewpoints and engage in dialogue with one another on matters of public interest within the guidelines specified below. CRITERIA FOR POSTING INFORMATION ON THE BOYD COUNTY CONSTABLE’S OFFICE, DISTRICT III FACEBOOK PAGE:
Friends of the Boyd County Constable’s Office page are encouraged to post information, pictures, or videos about issues and events affecting the County residents. We encourage discussion and varying viewpoints. However, the Constable’s Office reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to ban users and remove comments, links to sites, pictures, or videos from posts that violate the Terms of Use. By our communications policies, Boyd County Constable’s Office page will not allow the posting of comments, information, or links to sites, images, promotions, or advertisements that are any of the following:
The encouragement of illegal activity of any nature. Nudity or po*******hy. Profanity
Hate language
Adult entertainment
The encouragement or depiction of hostility, violence, or violent behavior. Obscene, indecent, or sexually explicit messages, including those with sexual overtone or innuendo. False, misleading, or deceptive information, sponsorships, and advertisements. Personal attacks and threats against any person or group. Language or information that is obscene, foul, vulgar, or abusive. Libelous, harassing, or abusive statements. Information is harmful to children, either emotionally or physically. Cruelty to animals. Online casino gaming, gambling, or betting. Third-party posting of non-public personal information without the person's permission or knowledge, including, but not limited to, telephone numbers and social security numbers. Re-posting of comments, links to sites, information, pictures, or videos by the same user that have been previously found to violate the Terms of Use and or removed by our agency because they were found to be a violation of the Terms of Use. Comments that are not related to the original thread posted by our agency or another user, also known as “hi-jacking” or “trolling.” Users are encouraged to post non-related posts separately under Posts to Page. You are posting the same comment on multiple threads by the same user that may or may not be related to the original line. Threads posted or shared in whole or in part from other pages to our agency’s page must comply with the published Terms of Use. Comments violating our agency’s Terms of Use may be deleted, and the user may be banned from posting on the Boyd County Constable’s Office, District III page. BY USING OUR PAGE, YOU REPRESENT AND AGREE THAT:
1) You have read and agree to abide by the conditions.
2) You are the owner of and responsible for any material you post.
3) The materials you post will not violate the rights of other people or entities.
4) You will indemnify and hold harmless the Boyd County Constable’s Office, District III, from and against any liability arising from the breach of any of these Terms of Use.
5) You understand and agree that the Terms of Use published on our agency’s page constitute notification of behavior guidelines. The Boyd County Constable’s Office will not engage in a discussion/argument with the user regarding the validity of the violation in the notification process. Failure to remove the comment(s), links to sites, pictures, or videos within 24 hours will result in the permanent deletion of the analysis, links to sites, photos, or videos, or the banning of users, depending on the severity of the violation. Visibility of the offending word (s), links to sites, pictures, or videos to other users may be suspended at the discretion of our agency’s Facebook Administrator during the 24 hours.
