The Greene County Commission is set to discuss the position of Constable at their meeting on Monday. On the agenda is a resolution that would remove all law enforcement powers from the position. The Commission had previously tried to abolish the office earlier this year, but the resolution failed on second reading.
The resolution states that the lack of training in law enforcement and the independence of constables from oversight by the Sheriff’s Department are reasons the position should be abolished. To do so requires a 2/3 majority vote by the County Commission.
In January, the Commission reached that threshold, voting 14-7 on the first reading in favor of eliminating the position. But on second reading in February, the resolution failed as two Commissioners changed their votes. Nick Gunter and Jeffery Bible had originally voted to end the position in January, but joined Chase Murray, Jason Cobble, Tim Smithson, Bill Dabbs, Lyle Parton, Larkin Clemmer, and Paul Burkey in voting against the abolishment.
A petition with almost 700 signatures was presented to the Commission in February in support of the position.
At the January meeting Sheriff Wesley Holt told Commissioners he felt that they position is no longer needed to supplement law enforcement.
The resolution is sponsored by Lloyd “Hoot” Bowers and Teddy Lawing, both of whom have worked for many years in law enforcement.
