Nueces County constables ask commissioners for deputies, equipment and vehicle program changes
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Summary
Constables from multiple precincts asked the commissioners’ court during a July budget workshop for more deputies, increased maintenance and equipment funding, and a standardized county vehicle program including body cameras and tasers to match city and sheriff departments.
Constables and their staff told the Nueces County Commissioners Court during a budget workshop that public-safety workloads have risen sharply and that their offices need more deputies, vehicle maintenance money and standardized equipment to keep pace. Precinct 2 Constable Jason McCack outlined requests including two additional bailiff/deputy positions, expanded vehicle maintenance funds and $316,634 for a five‑year plan to buy Axon body cameras, Axon taser 10 units and in‑car cameras so his office aligns “with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office and the Corpus Christi Police Department,” he said.
The constables described operational drivers: rising counts of writs and civil papers, frequent court coverage and expanding call volumes that draw on limited day‑shift staffing. A Constable for Precinct 1 said his office processed roughly 6,690 civil papers in one 12‑month span and had served 4,672 in the first nine months of the next year, and asked for three additional deputies to cover three justice‑of‑the‑peace courts, more overtime, and additional mobile data/cradle‑point service for patrol laptops.
Commissioners and constables also spent substantial time on county vehicle policy. Multiple constables and commissioners said a countywide leasing program and inconsistent equipment outfitting have left some precincts with very old county‑owned vehicles while leased units are swapped out. Commissioners asked Purchasing to present a leasing policy and to propose standard vehicle outfitting lists and replacement triggers; the court directed staff to arrange that presentation during the budget process.
The constables asked that uniformed equipment, body cameras and tasers be standardized across county law‑enforcement agencies so devices and recorded footage are interoperable. McCack said the equipment would improve officer safety and “allow us to track the exact location” of deputies while on duty. Precinct 5 staff and supervisors emphasized public‑safety concerns in outlying areas and asked for more overtime and manpower to avoid single‑officer coverage on long shifts.
Why it matters: constables serve both civil‑process and first‑response roles across Nueces County. Their requests — more deputies, vehicle maintenance, interoperable body‑worn and in‑car camera systems and clarity on the leasing program — would increase recurring personnel and capital spending and affect county fleet policy.
Discussion vs. outcome: the workshop produced no formal votes. Commissioners asked Purchasing and Fleet Management to present a countywide vehicle/leasing briefing and asked staff to provide cost estimates for standard outfitting and for replacing older county vehicles; no appropriation was adopted at the workshop.
