Constables are Pennsylvania law enforcement officers, elected to six-year terms, or appointed by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in each county within the Commonwealth, except Philadelphia County.
Constables are the people’s peace officer, even more so than even the county sheriff, as constables have a smaller constituency. However, both constables and sheriffs are generally elected, whereas police officers employed by the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal and regional police departments are hired and appointed to those positions by their agency and city/borough/township Council, Board of Commissioners/Supervisors, and/or a city/borough/township manager.
Constables’ work falls into three categories:
- Elections, which involves peacekeeping at all Primary and General Elections
- Volunteer, which includes general peacekeeping and other means of supporting their community, and the Commonwealth
- Judicial, which involves serving warrants issues by a Magisterial District Judge on persons wanted for crimes against the Commonwealth