2023 Tennessee Code › Title 8 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (§§ 8-1-101 — 65-168) › Chapter 10 - CONSTABLES (§§ 8-10-101 — 8-10-206) › Part 1 - IN GENERAL (§§ 8-10-101 — 8-10-120) › Section 8-10-108 - Oath of office

(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b), every constable shall take an oath that the constable will well and truly serve the state in the office of constable; that the constable will faithfully, and without delay, execute and return all lawful process directed to the constable; and that the constable will well and truly, according to the constable's power and ability, do and execute all other duties of the office of constable.
(b)
In counties having a population of:
not less than
nor more than
3,700
4,700
6,000
7,800
8,400
8,500
8,535
8,540
9,200
9,570
10,770
10,780
11,500
11,511
11,512
11,550
11,700
11,900
12,060
12,500
12,550
13,000
14,500
14,600
15,300
15,500
15,750
16,000
17,000
17,350
18,000
18,200
18,300
18,900
19,000
19,100
19,130
19,140
21,000
21,500
21,600
22,300
23,200
23,350
23,355
23,391
23,391
23,450
23,500
23,750
24,000
24,255
25,600
27,500
27,900
28,000
28,555
28,600
28,825
28,827
29,250
31,250
31,260
33,000
33,700
34,000
35,480
41,800
41,900
50,000
57,550
59,400
59,500
60,050
60,600
62,000
64,000
65,000
101,000
118,400
118,700
200,000
according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and in Fentress County and Hamblen County, every constable shall take an oath that the constable will well and truly serve the state in the office of constable; that the constable will cause the peace of the state to be kept, to the best of the constable's power; that the constable will arrest all such persons as go in the constable's sight armed offensively, or who commit any riot, affray, or other breach of the peace, or will use the constable's best endeavor, on complaint made, to apprehend all felons, rioters, or persons riotously assembled; and that, if such persons flee or make resistance, the constable will pursue, and make hue and cry, according to law; that the constable will faithfully, and without delay, execute and return all lawful process directed to the constable; and that the constable will well and truly, according to the constable's power and ability, do and execute all other duties of the office of constable.
(c)
The oath of office may be administered to the constable by any judge of the court of general sessions or other judicial officer of the constable's county.
(d)
Notwithstanding any other law or interpretation thereof to the contrary, the constables in counties having a population of not less than thirteen thousand five hundred sixty-five (13,565) nor more than thirteen thousand six hundred (13,600), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall continue to be vested with all law enforcement powers and authority conferred upon other constables by subsection (b) and §§
39-17-505
,
40-6-210
,
40-6-212
,
55-8-152
,
57-9-101
,
57-9-103
and
57-9-201
.
(e)
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the constables in counties having a population of not less than seventeen thousand four hundred seventy-five (17,475) nor more than seventeen thousand five hundred seventy-five (17,575), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall be vested with all law enforcement powers and authority conferred upon other constables by subsection (b) and §§
39-17-505
,
40-6-210
,
40-6-212
,
55-8-152
,
57-9-101
,
57-9-103
and
57-9-201
.
Code 1858, §§ 388, 389 (deriv. Acts 1741, ch. 5, §§ 2, 6); Shan., §§ 479, 480; Code 1932, §§ 726, 727; Acts 1969, ch. 160, § 1; 1969, ch. 319, §§ 2, 4; 1970, ch. 383, § 1; 1970, ch. 384, § 1; 1970, ch. 496, § 1; 1970, ch. 588, §§ 1, 2; 1971, ch. 53, § 2; 1971, ch. 231, § 1; 1972, ch. 472, § 1; 1973, ch. 197, § 1; 1973, ch. 382, § 1; 1973, ch. 389, § 1; 1974, ch. 631, §§ 1, 2; Private Acts 1976, ch. 242, § 1; Private Acts 1976, ch. 293, § 1; Acts 1977, ch. 239, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1979, ch. 68, §§ 2, 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 8-1008; Acts 1982, ch. 881, § 1; 1983, ch. 339, § 1; 1987, ch. 59, § 1; 1991, ch. 9, § 3; 1992, ch. 973, § 2; Private Acts 1994, ch. 191, § 1; Acts 1996, ch. 553, § 2; 1996, ch. 675, § 11; 1996, ch. 753, § 1; 2004, ch. 450, § 2.