HISTORY OF THE TEXAS CONSTABLE
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836) provided for the election in each county of a sheriff and "a sufficient number of constables." During the ten years of the republic's existence, thirty-eight constables were elected in twelve counties, with the largest number (thirteen) in Harrisburg, later Harris County.
Court records indicate that violent crime was rare in the republic, except when horse or cattle thieves entered Texas from Arkansas or Louisiana; most indictments were for non-lethal crimes such as illegal gambling or assaults resulting from fights or scuffles.
Shortly after Texas became a state, an act passed by the legislature specified that the constable should be "the conservator of the peace throughout the county," adding that "it shall be his duty to suppress all riots, routs, affrays, fighting, and unlawful assemblies, and he shall keep the peace, and shall cause all offenders to be arrested, and taken before some justice of the peace." Constables were the most active law-enforcement officials in many counties during the early statehood of Texas.
The beginning of the Civil War saw the constables' role, as well as their number, dwindle dramatically. Some were absorbed into the Confederate Army and by the end of the war, Texas constables were mostly a thing of the past. In an effort to decentralize control over state government, the Texas Constitution of 1876 mandated that constables would once again be elected at a precinct level.
Constable Henry Metzler
1905-1906
Constable Max Metzler
1935-1940
HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES IN PRECINCT 5
Earliest county records indicate that the first Constable over Harris County Precinct 5 was C. Bolte, elected to office in 1879. Since this time, 22 Constables have led the department, the latest being Constable Ted Heap, taking office in 2017. Along this line of leaders, there have been 3 Constables whose sons had gone on to serve as Constable over Precinct 5 as well. R.E. Sutton and his son J.W. Sutton, Henry Metzler and his son Max Metzler, and Fritz Theis and his son Allie Theis. Constable Allie Thies also holds the distinction of being the longest serving Pct. 5 Constable with 31 years in office.
In the early 1900's Precinct 5's jurisdiction extended into the Tomball area. The first station, along with a jailhouse, was located in a tin building. In 1935, Constable Max Metzler helped to procure the new jail and courthouse located at 211 W. Market St. in Tomball. It is unclear if this building actually housed the Precinct 5 Constable's Office as well, and conflicting records indicate that the departments command station might have been located in nearby Rose Hill. When jurisdictional lines were re-drawn however, both of these locations became part of another precinct.
Constable Fritz Theis
1912-1916
Constable Allie Theis
1941-1972
(Longest serving Pct. 5 Constable)
Past Precinct 5 patches, badges, and uniforms.
Precinct 5 Constables
Constable C. Bolte
Constable R.E. Sutton
Constable J.W. Sutton
Constable Jacob Michael
Constable Henry Metzler
Constable William Peters
Constable Frank Kuehn
Constable Fritz Treichel
Constable Fritz Theis
Constable Jason Engle
Constable H. Henricks
Constable Thomas Carol
Constable William Rudel
Constable Max H. Metzler
Constable Allie W. Theis
Constable J.C. Bolton
Constable Ralph Franz
Constable Tracy Maxon
Constable Steve Radack
Constable Glen Cheek
Constable Phil Camus
Constable Ted Heap
1879-1885
1886-1891
1892-1895
1896-1904
1905-1906
1907-1908
1908-1909
1909-1911
1912-1916
1917-1918
1919-1926
1927-1930
1931-1934
1935- 1940
1941-1972
1973-1974
1974-1976
1977-1984
1985-1989
1990-2007
2008-2016
2017-Present
HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 5 TODAY
At one time, Precinct 5 was a wide and sparsely populated area. The ranches and farms that existed more than 100 years ago have given way to densely populated neighborhoods, parks, and businesses. Today the Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 5 is one of the largest constable departments in the country. Spanning an area over 300 square miles, it covers all of west Harris County and is home to more than 1 million residents.
In 2001, development began for the Energy Corridor, a seven-mile stretch of corporate buildings straddling interstate 10 and located in the heart of Precinct 5. In the years since, the community growth in this area has been unprecedented. The growth that this department has experienced in these same years has been equally unprecedented. Once limited to basic patrol functions with less than 40 sworn deputies, the Precinct 5 Constable's Office has grown substantially, not only in size but in capability.
Over 450 sworn deputies, with an additional 50 civilian support staff, now serve the residents of this precinct. Combining state-of-the-art technologies that provide capabilities on land, in water, and in the air, with advanced training in numerous fields, Precinct 5 has grown into its role as a major metropolitan law enforcement agency. But it's not just the capabilities of the department that make it what it is, it's a long standing reputation of professionalism and commitment to duty as well. Because of these factors the Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 5 has earned its place as one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the state of Texas.
Our Mission is to uphold the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Texas. To enforce the laws, keep the peace, and to serve and protect the citizens of Harris County Precinct 5.
Always Honor, Integrity, Service
