Thank you for stopping by my campaign website!

My name is William "Bill" Norwood and I am honored to announce my candidacy for the position of Constable of Precinct 3 in the 2012 Republican Primary.

Please take a few minutes to browse my site and learn more about a Constable and their duties.

Harris County Constables

The primary duties of the constable's office include but are not limited to providing bailiff services and security to Justice of the Peace courts, serving civil process, executing arrest warrants issued by the Justice of the Peace and the Texas Attorney General.  Additionally, Harris County Constable's provide regular police services such as neighborhood patrol, criminal investigations, traffic law enforcement, and school district safety and security, just to mention a few.

About Precinct 3

Precinct 3 is the third largest Constable Precinct in Harris County and has a population of over 300,000 residents and covers approximately 300 square miles. The Constable's Department provides law enforcement services in Barrett, *Baytown, Channelview, Cloverleaf, Crosby, Highlands, Huffman, Sheldon, and numerous other communities and subdivisions throughout the precinct.

History of the Constable in Colonial America

The first constable was appointed in Plymouth Colony in 1632. During that time, the leading official was the Justice of the Peace. The Justice of the Peace, assisted by the Constable, was in charge of the county court, which was both judiciary and legislative. The Constable enforced the orders of colonial and county officials in both civil and criminal matters.

History of the Texas Constable

The Constable had established existence in Texas under Spain and France rule prior to becoming a colony in Mexico. While a colony of Mexico, the Constable was re-established in Texas when Stephen F. Austin wrote and proposed codes of criminal regulation. The Mexican Government approved these regulations and added them to the established elections by precinct for the Office of the Constable.


The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) provided for the election in each county of a sheriff and "a sufficient number of constables." During the ten years of the republic's existence, thirty-eight constables were elected in twelve counties, the first in Nacogdoches County and the largest number (thirteen) in Harrisburg (later Harris) County. Court records indicate that violent crime was rare in the republic, except when horse or cattle thieves entered Texas from Arkansas or Louisiana; most indictments were for nonlethal crimes such as illegal gambling or assaults resulting from fights or scuffles. Juan N. Seguín and Elliott M. Millican both served as constables during the republic.

Shortly after Texas became a state, an act passed by the legislature specified that the constable should be "the conservator of the peace throughout the county," adding that "it shall be his duty to suppress all riots, routs, affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies, and he shall keep the peace, and shall cause all offenders to be arrested, and taken before some justice of the peace." Constables were the most active law-enforcement officials in many counties during the early statehood of Texas.

The Constitution of 1876, designed to decentralize control of the state government, reduced the power of many state officials and mandated that constables would once again be elected at the precinct level. A 1954 constitutional amendment extended their term of office from two years to four. Today, constables numbering approximately 780 are elected from precincts in most Texas counties. Their law-enforcement roles vary widely, but in general their police powers are no different from those of other peace officers in the state.

Constables and their deputies are fully certified peace officers and are required to maintain the same state mandated training as any other peace officer in Texas.

Constables are also associate members of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

(*Baytown Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency)


BIBLIOGRAPHY: Eugene C. Barker, ed., The Austin Papers (3 vols., Washington: GPO, 1924-28). Allen G. Hatley, Texas Constables, A Frontier Heritage (Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press, 1999). Allen G. Hatley

Leadership Through Integrity, Accountability, and Responsibility 

IF YOU WISH TO SCHEDULE Bill to speak at your Homeowners Association, Civic meeting in your Community, or Church function, please call:

(281) 507 – 8214

Email: moreinfo@VoteForNorwood.com