WASHINGTON CO. CELEBRATES 200 YEARS OF CONSTABLES, JPs IN TEXAS
Riddle, Precinct 2 Constable Trey Holleway, Precinct
1 Constable Ken Holle, Precinct 1 Chief Deputy
Constable William Shepherd, Precinct 2 Justice of
the Peace Douglas Cone, Precinct 3 Justice of the
Peace Duane Houston, Precinct 1 Justice of the
Peace Douglas Zwiener, Precinct 1 Deputy Constable
Sgt. Brad Kuecker, Precinct 1 Constable K-9 Lukas
(not pictured are Precinct 3 Constable David Blakey,
Precinct 4 Constable Greg Rolling and Precinct 2
Deputy Constable Jay Huffty)
Washington County’s constables and justices of the peace gathered today (Monday) to commemorate a state milestone.
This month marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the justice of the peace and constable offices in Texas. They were created in 1823 after Stephen F. Austin appointed John Jackson Tumlinson, Sr. as the first justice of the peace and Thomas Valentine Alley as the first constable.
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Douglas Zwiener says all of the constables and justices of the peace in Washington County work well together and “run an efficient ship.” He credits the solid foundation established hundreds of years ago as the reason the system continues to be used.
Precinct 1 Constable Ken Holle says the local constables offices have seen much growth in recent years, adding new deputies and donation-funded K-9 programs, to keep up with the county as it continues to develop.
The Texas Senate issued a resolution last week, co-authored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, in recognition of the bicentennial.