Election News

   It has been both my privilege and honor to serve as your Constable in Precinct #2 for the past 12 years. During this time, a lot of work and dedication has helped form the Constable’s Office into what it is today, a full time agency that now employs a Constable and 6 commissioned deputies that regularly patrol Precinct #2. As Constable, I have over 20 years of public safety experience and currently hold a Master Texas Peace Officer License with 13 years of experience in law enforcement. In addition, I have received over 4500 hours of training and hold certifications as a Licensed Paramedic, Arson Investigator, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Texas Breath Test Operator, Field Training Officer, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Practitioner, K-9 Handler and received over 200 hours of civil process and environmental law enforcement.

Looking back 12 years during my initial campaign, I ran on a platform of providing a new look for the Constable’s Office. This new look included a working, uniformed Constable, which patrolled in a marked unit. This was seen as something new for any Constable’s Office in Wharton County, but was the most common request made by my constituents that wanted to see more visible patrols throughout the communities and rural areas of Precinct #2. As your Constable, that request was answered; first by myself and then by adding a fully licensed Reserve Deputy Constable to patrol at very minimal expense to the taxpayers. Due to the success of this program, Precinct #2 was one of the Constable Offices to be elevated to a full time status, which was another first for Wharton County.

Since 1997, this office has expanded into the largest Constable’s Office in Wharton County, which currently has seven commissioned peace offices working for the citizens of Precinct #2. In 2002, Wharton County Commissioner’s Court reassigned the Environmental Enforcement for Wharton County under my office. In a little over 2 years, this division has handled over 883 cases and has cleared over 600 cases. My reserve deputies volunteer over 100 hours per month of patrol and traffic enforcement, while responding to 911 calls and providing backup assistance to other agencies throughout Precinct #2. In addition to these duties, all officers serve civil process and in 2003 served 214 misdemeanor and felony warrants clearing over $50,606 in warrants alone. During the course of their work these deputies have made numerous drug related arrest, taken drunk drivers off of the road and in 2003 deputies in one instance seized over $46,000 in currency and seized a vehicle in a drug related arrest. In addition to patrol, my office has an excellent working relationship with the Justice of the Peace Office, which is essential due to our constant interaction. In 2003, the Justice of the Peace Precinct #2 Office brought in over $500,000 in revenue and heard over 5000 criminal and civil cases. This is important because the Constable’s Office must work together with the Justice of the Peace in serving the subpoenas, civil process, warrants, providing courtroom security, and selecting juries for justice court trials.

A majority of the Precinct #2 officers are cross trained as Firemen, Arson Investigators, Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, Paramedic and Intermediate EMT’s which bring emergency medical help to people with medical emergencies and involved in accidents prior to local EMS arrival. All patrol vehicles are equipped with emergency medical equipment such as heart monitors/defibrillators and medications used in the prehospital setting. In addition to medical equipment, all vehicles are equipped with in-car video cameras and computers that link the officers to the state computer that provides vehicle registrations, driver license information, wanted person checks, and GPS mapping. These computers allow for rapid responses to routine checks that increase officer safety and cut down on the dispatch workload. Since 2002, the Precinct #2 Constable’s Office has received over $76,000 in grants that helped pay for a large amount of the equipment that we currently use.

Hopefully this demonstrates where the Constable Office of Precinct #2 started from 12 years ago at the “ground level” and where it has gone in 2004. Like I stated earlier, it has been my pleasure to serve the citizens of Precinct #2. By working together we have established a Constable’s Office that everyone can take pride in by knowing the kind of service it provides to the citizens of Precinct #2, at the lowest budget possible to the taxpayers. As for the future, my office will continue to provide the kind law enforcement coverage that everyone has come to know and expect throughout Precinct #2. I would like to thank my many constituents that have contacted me and have offered their support in my upcoming election. Your vote will be greatly appreciated and it will be my honor to continue to serve as your Constable.

 

 

Sincerely,

John A. Szymanski
Constable