Bee County sets limit of six reserve deputy constables per constable, affirms eight appointments

Bee County Commissioners Court on Monday adopted a limit of six reserve deputy constables that any elected constable may appoint and confirmed eight current reserve appointments for two precincts.

The action came during Agenda Items 8 and 9 at the June 9 regular meeting in the Bee County Courthouse. The court approved the limit and the confirmations by voice votes that the clerk summarized as passing “without exception.”

County officials said the limit is primarily housekeeping and intended to balance county exposure with allowing constables flexibility to recruit community volunteers. "Reserve deputy constables are not employees. They do not, receive a salary. They are volunteers," the county judge said during the discussion, adding that the county’s cost to support volunteers is "negligible at best." The judge also explained that statute requires a bond for appointed reserve deputies and that the county could face liability if a commissioned officer acts wrongfully while performing official duties.

Why it matters: Reserve deputy constables are commissioned peace officers who serve at the discretion of an elected constable. Commissioners cited public-safety benefits from volunteers in rural counties and said limiting appointments helps manage insurance and oversight risks. Commissioners also discussed the potential scale: with four elected constables in Bee County, a cap of six reserve deputies per constable could yield up to 28 commissioned officers countywide (six reserves plus the constable per precinct), a point raised by Commissioner Dennis DeWitt during debate.

The court confirmed the following reserve deputy constable appointments for the precincts presented at the meeting: Brian Trevino, [Gillers Mindy] (name as stated in record), Jesse Garcia, Don Astari, Richard Webb, Linda Walker, Adam Trevino and Kirk Delgado. (The court recorded the confirmations as a single motion to confirm the listed individuals for Precincts 1 and 2; the meeting materials identified the appointing constables.)

Commissioners asked about policies and procedures for reserve deputies. County legal counsel and the judge cited a Texas attorney general opinion and state law in explaining that commissioners’ court does not have authority to compel an elected constable to produce internal personnel policies; the court’s role is to set limits and confirm appointees. The judge said the court retains the ability to revisit the numeric limit at a later meeting.

Several commissioners emphasized the volunteer nature of reserve deputies and their typical practices: most current reserve deputies "come with their own gear and their own vehicle," the judge said. Commissioners also asked that appointing constables provide the lists of names to the auditor and the county judge so the county and insurer have current rosters for coverage and record-keeping; the court stated that confirmations will be recorded in the minutes.

The court voted unanimously to (1) place a limit of six reserve deputy constables per constable and (2) confirm the eight named reserve deputies. Commissioners noted the cap can be revisited by future court action.

The court did not adopt or require a uniform internal policy for constable offices; commissioners said state law limits the court’s authority to compel elected officers to provide internal policies. The judge encouraged continued cooperation among law enforcement agencies in Bee County and said the court would reconsider the limit if future circumstances warranted.

The court moved on to other agenda items after completing the confirmations and limit vote.