To serve as a constable in Arkansas, you have to be elected in your township, then meet the certification, training, uniform, and vehicle rules in Arkansas Code § 14-14-1314 before you can access criminal-justice databases or carry a firearm on duty. The Arkansas constable requirements are set by statute and administered largely through the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST), and they apply on top of, not instead of, winning the election.
Getting Elected and Sworn In
The Arkansas Constitution provides that qualified voters in each township elect one constable for a two-year term.1Justia Law. Arkansas Constitution Article 7 Section 47 – Constables – Term of Office The presiding judge of the county court issues a certificate of election, and the constable’s oath is endorsed on that certificate. Arkansas Code § 14-14-1301 confirms that one constable is elected per township and must meet the qualifications and duties set by law.2Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1301 – County, Quorum Court District, and Township Officers
Two years goes fast. Winning the seat does not, by itself, let you pull records or carry a gun; those come only after the training below.
Certification and ACIC Access
Before a constable can query the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC), two boxes have to be checked. You must satisfactorily complete the constable certification course provided by CLEST.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements You must also obtain an Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) and complete the federal Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Training.4Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Arkansas Crime Information Center FAQ The ORI is not inherited from a predecessor; contact ACIC directly to be set up.
After the initial certification course, constables must satisfactorily complete sixteen hours of CLEST-certified continuing education every year.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements That annual obligation runs for the length of your term.
Firearms Training and Annual Qualification
Carrying a firearm on duty is a separate gate. A constable who wants to be armed must first complete sixteen hours of firearms training, then meet firearm qualification standards for a law enforcement official every year after that.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements Miss the annual requalification and you cannot lawfully carry a firearm while performing constable duties until you pass again. This is on top of the sixteen hours of continuing education tied to ACIC access, so plan for both each year.
Uniform Rules
Arkansas law prescribes what a constable wears on duty. The standard duty and formal uniform share most elements:3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements
- A white shirt, required on formal occasions and permitted at any time.
- A constable identification patch on the left shoulder, one inch below the shoulder seam.
- An American flag patch on the right shoulder, one inch below the shoulder seam.
- A name tag above the right pocket flap.
- A six-point star reading “Arkansas Constable” on the left side of the shirt.
- Tan pants for regular duty, blue or black for formal occasions.
For search or rescue operations, the constable wears an all-black uniform: black shirt and black pants.[/mfn]
Vehicle Rules
A constable performing official duties must use a motor vehicle equipped with emergency equipment and clearly marked with a six-point star and the words “Arkansas Constable.”3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements The statute says “emergency equipment” without specifying the configuration. An unmarked personal vehicle does not satisfy this rule when you are acting in your official capacity.
Who Pays for Training, Uniforms, and the Vehicle
Arkansas Code § 14-14-1314(d) provides that the county may pay reasonable expenses associated with the training, uniform, and vehicle requirements.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements “May” is the operative word. Reimbursement is permitted, not required, and whether your county actually funds constable equipment depends on the quorum court’s budget. Ask early, because uniforms, patches, vehicle markings, and emergency equipment add up.
Narrow Exemptions
Two groups get relief from the standard path. Constables already holding office on July 31, 2007, are exempt from CLEST certification and annual training if they had previously completed the Part-Time Law Enforcement Officer training (or higher) along with the mandatory racial profiling courses.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 14-14-1314 – Constable Training Requirements – Uniform Requirements Anyone elected or appointed after that date follows the standard rules.
A full-time Arkansas law enforcement officer who retires and becomes a constable within six months of retirement is not subject to the standard refresher-course requirements under CLEST Rule 1032, provided the officer completed at least twenty-four hours of CLEST-certified training annually (including firearms qualification and racial profiling) and holds a non-forfeitable right to benefits under a state retirement plan.5Justia. Arkansas Administrative Code Agency 132, Rule 132.00.19-001 Instructor certifications the officer held at retirement carry over, except radar.