Constable controversy
Palo Pinto County Pct. 5 Constable Luis Rodriguez created quite a stir when he and Mineral Wells resident Steven Silva entered an EZ Mart convenience store after midnight and attempted to purchase alcohol.

On March 14, Rodriguez and Silva approached the store clerk and asked to buy beer. The clerk reported informing the two men it was after hours and they couldn’t purchase beer. According to the report, they responded that it was Saturday, although it was a Wednesday. Then, Silva allegedly made sexual overtures towards the clerk, according to the police report.

During the course of events, the clerk told Rodriguez she knew who he was but he replied that his name was “Hank.”

As the clerk was going to hit the panic button, another customer walked in and the two men walked out. In their departure, the older model, yellow sedan driven by Silva struck a pole guarding the gas pumps and kept going.

Silva and Rodriguez were pulled over on a traffic stop in the 100 block of S.E. 20th Avenue, after the car was seen leaving the Whataburger parking lot in the 2500 block of East Hubbard Street. Silva was arrested at the scene for no insurance and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle while Rodriguez was allowed to call for a ride.

Later in March, Palo Pinto County Commissioners met in closed session then issued a joint statement asking Rodriguez “resign his position of public trust immediately so that full confidence may be restored.”

Rodriguez declined to step down.

A petition was later filed with the 29th Judicial District Court, petitioning for the removal of Rodriguez from office. Over 200 signatures in support of the request accompanied the petition. Parker County District Judge Graham Quisenberry was assigned to the petition.

He denied the request approximately a week after receiving it and the petition was dropped.

“The order speaks for itself,” Quisenberry had said of the decision to deny the petition.

Just for clarification, most constables *are not* sworn officers. I say most simply because there may be exceptions, but I am a participant at a forum where the constables make it crystal clear that they are not cops, and are not trained like cops. Their purpose is to serve papers for the magistrate and provide "security" at the polls. Yes they are uniformed, including a duty belt, and yes even some carry sidearms, but no, they are not cops.

Just for clarification, most constables *are not* sworn officers.

did someone just say mall ninja.... some could take offense....