The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-04-16
AN ACT

n tual preservation ofthe peace and good
order of the State, and the better security
of life and property, to- take care that the
laws are faithfully executed, providing
/ for the appointment off Constable, and
Deputy Constable for each parish, and
defining their duties, powers, and COM
pensation.
SECTION 7. BE it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the State
of Louisiana in General Assembly convened,
That there shall hereafter be appointed by
the Governor, with the advice and consent
of the Senate, one chief constable, in each
parish in the State except in the parishes of
Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard, which
chief constable shall have power to appoint
in his parish such a number of deputy con-
stables, from time to time, as mag be neces-
sary to perform the duties hereinafter pre-
seribed.
SEC. 9. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the term of office for each chief constable
shall continue during the pleasure of the
Governor, subject to removal bv him.
, Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the chief constable shall be commissioned,
but before receiving such commission, or
entering on the discharge of the duties of
his office, he shall give bond for the faith
ful discharge of his duties in the sum of
five hundred dollars, with security to be
approved by the Governor, and take and
subscribe the oath prescribed by the consti.
tuition, and the oath or oaths prescribed y
law, for officers of the State, before recei-
wing their commission. ..
SIC. 4. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the Governor shall commission the deputy
constables, after they shall have taken the
oath prescribed for the State officers, the
said deputy constable being subject to re-
rnoval by the chief constable for good and
sufficient reason; provided, however, that
no chief constable or deputy constable shall
be commissioned in those parishes where,
in the opinion Of the Governor, their servi-
ces are not required.
Sec. B. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the Governor shall have power to fill all
vacancies that may occur in the Office of
chief constable or deputy constable.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, etc, That
it shall be the duty of the chief constable,
subject to the order of the Governor. to pre-
serve the peace, quell disturbances and RI
OTIS, and upon the warrant of any court of
competent jurisdiction, to summarily arrest
all persons charged with murder, man
slaughter, assaults, robberies, burglary, ar
son, riots or disturbances of the peace; Pro-
vided, That any person so arrested shall be
entitled to be brought forthwith before the
Parish Judge of the parish or the District
Judge of the district, and to a speedy exa-
mination and prompt commitment or dis.
charge, according to law. . 4.s.= $50 Z ..
Sec. z. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
to execute these duties, the chief constable
shall have authority to call into active SER
vice such q number of the deputy consta-
bles of his parish rs he may deem necessa.
~, who shall, during such special service,
be subject exclusively to the orders of the
chief constable and Of the Governor.
/ Sec. 8. Be hifuSther enacted, ETC., That
each deputy constable, when employed as
herein provided, shall be entitled to three
dollars per day, TO- be paid by the parish
upon the certificate of the chief
constable Of the. parish, supported by the
oath or affirmation of the deputy constable
See. 9. Belt turtle enacted, ETC., That
any person who shall by violence resist or
impede, or aid and abet such resistance to
any such chief constable or deputy consta-
bic in the performance of his duty under
the provisions of this act, shall b, deemed
guilty of felony, and, upon conviction there
of, be punished by Imprisonment in the Pc
nitentiarya for not less than two years, or by
fine Of not TESS than FIVE hundred dollars,
or by both fine and imprisonment. :,
Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, etc, That
said chief constables shall have authority
to act within. the limits of their respective
parishes; Provided, that the Governor may,
when III his judgment It becomrs necessary.
a&thorize the chief constable of any parish.
With such deputy constabaes az may be nc
necessary to- assist the chief constable Of
another parish, and he may in such cases
assign such officer as he may deem proper
to command the whole.
SEC. II. Be it further enacted. et".. That
the Governor may commission the, sheriff of
any parish to act as chief constable under
this act; and any sheriff SO commissioned
and acting shall have the! powers and COM
pensation, aud perform the duties herein
prescribed for. the chief constable of a par.
ish. -~.;,...
SEC. II. Be il further enacted. etc. That
each chief constable shall receive compensa-
ton Of four dollars d day for the number Of
days he may perform actual service as chief
constable, to be paid to him by the Parish
Treasurer upon the warrant of the Parish
Judge, approved by the Governor. nj
SEC. Is. Be it further enacted. etc, That
the chief constable of each, parish shall
assign to each voting precinct of the
parish one deputy constable, who shall, for
the term of his commission, have all the
powers and perform all the duties and re-
ceire the same compensation in fees that is
now prescribed by law for c~onstables. i
SEC. IA. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the Offices of all constables now holding
such Office in any parish in the State are
hereby declared vacated Immediately upon
the appointment of the chief and DEPUTY
constables for such parish; and hereafter no
person assume toiexercise the power or per.
form the duties now or hereafter prescribed
bylaw for constables, except such persons
shall be appointed under the provisions
o this act. Any person violating the provis-
ions Of this section shall be deemed guilty
Of q misdenneanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by a fine of not
less than fifty dollars, and imprisonment for
not hess than three months for each and
every such violation h#a a5-e,taa7 es
SIC. ID Be it further enacted, ETC.. That
the chief constable shall prosecute every
person arrested under the provisions Of this
act before the proper court, and if such per
son shall be convicted, he shall be fined by
the court, in addition to the penalties here.
inbefore prescribed, the sum of ten dollars,
to be paid into the parish treasury, and
shall be committed to prison until such fine
is paid.
SEC. l6. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the Parish Treasurer shall keep all fines
collected under the, previous section in a
separate fund for the payment Of the chic
and deputy constables. !. f @ay
SIC. II. Be it further enacted, etc, That
nothing in This act shall he On eonstra,od nc