After 24-hour shifts and late night calls, Pearl River County Constables hit the streets, serving the community and helping their brothers in blue.
Constable Danny Joe Slade works part-time as a constable for the northern district, setting his own hours to accommodate his schedule with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.
Most people don’t know that this is a fee-paid position, Slade said.
Constables are elected by county residents to serve four-year terms and are paid based on the amount of fees collected through their efforts, Slade said.
“All of our money comes from the wrongdoer,” Slade said.
As certified law enforcement officers, Pearl River County Constables are responsible for serving summonses, subpoenas, making arrests and writing traffic tickets, Slade said.
The county constables are responsible for paying for their own vehicles, maintenance, gas and insurance, while the county provides emergency lights and vehicle stickers, Slade said.
Often, the constables work alongside municipal police departments and the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.
Slade is serving his fourth term in office because “I believe in our justice system,” he said.
He enjoys working with children and teenagers to keep them out of “mischief” and often finds himself interacting with the elderly community who may not ordinarily have visitors.
Pearl River County Constable for the Southeast District Jason Hunt said running for this office has been his plan for a long time.
Two of his uncles are former constables and he looked up to them as a child, Hunt said.
The county has three constables divided into separate districts but they work very closely together, Slade said.
Constable Ray Bennett represents the Southwest District.
Slade has been involved in law enforcement for about 30 years and has learned the importance of making people feel comfortable, he said.
“I want to make everybody feel welcome and important,” Slade said.
Whether it’s lending a hand to a local deputy, or stopping on patrol to play basketball with some kids, Slade and Hunt said they don’t want the community to fear them, but instead trust and respect them.
Slade is known for handing out candy, gum and stuffed animals to children in the community.
Hunt said he was once thanked by a father for stopping to play basketball with some kids in the street.
“We try not to limit ourselves to one program,” Slade said, who wants the whole community to benefit from law enforcement.
He often tells parents not to encourage their kids to be scared of law enforcement.
Both men spoke about the importance of connecting with children by complementing them and not demanding anything from them.
“If every time you show up you’re bringing bad, that’s what people are going to think of you,” Hunt said.
“We want them to trust us…if you ever lose that trust, you’ll never get it back,” Slade said.
“We ask the community to remember us and keep us in their prayers,” Hunt said before thanking the employees of the Pearl River County Justice Court for their hard work.