by Morgan Montalvo
WOAI News
Southeast Bexar County residents are voicing opposition to proposed cuts by commissioners’ court to the number of deputy constables in all four local precincts, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
News Radio 1200 WOAI earlier this week was the first to report on the looming staff reductions, which would affect about 20 percent of Texas-certified peace officers who work as deputy constables in Bexar County and take effect Oct. 1.
The layoffs are among the budget cuts commissioners will discuss today.
Taxpayers met Thursday evening with Precinct 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert to question the planned reductions, and the proposed move of the Precinct 4 Justice of The Peace Court and Constable’s Office from its present location on Southeast Loop 410 near U.S. Highway 87 to a location 19 miles away near Joint Base Randolph at the jurisdiction’s extreme northern border.
Dan Martinez, former head of the San Antonio Crime Coalition and spokesman for 16 Precinct 4 neighborhood associations, says most taxpayers learned about the cuts just days ago, and received no justification from commissioners’ court. Martinez says his groups are against any reductions to the number of constables because the area is historically underserved, about 25 percent of residents live at or below the poverty level, and crime continues to be a problem.
He says because constables are sworn peace officers, they are a valued anti-crime asset.
“SAPD cannot cover completely, and even DPS has come in to help out in many situations,” Martinez tells News Radio 1200 WOAI, “and the Sheriff’s Office can’t do it all.”
Martinez says the proposed layoffs would be the second time in two years constables have been ordered to trim their patrol force in an era of countywide growth and increased officer workload.
“Child support papers, all kinds of summons, warrants – there’s about 28 different things they’re called to do,” says Martinez. “It’s just unacceptable to go ahead and do any type of cuts. In fact they should be adding – not cutting,” Martinez adds.
Calvert says he agrees with constituents who want to see the number of deputy constables on patrol increased, not decreased.
“I don’t understand how, in a growing population, that you cut law enforcement,” Calvert says, referring to himself as “a lone vote at this point.”
Calvert says he wants more citizen input on the cuts at meetings prior to next month’s budget adoption.
Precinct 4 voters Larry Fobrich and Maria de la Garza, both of whom volunteer with area mental health support groups, were among those at last night’s monthly community town hall.
They say their feet are planted firmly in their constable’s corner.
“Just knowing that they’re around is comforting to the people here who value their property,” Fobrich says. “Constables do certain jobs that nobody else does,” says de la Garza, calling the proposed layoffs “not a good idea at all.” ------