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(Editor’s Note: The opinion the letter refers to appeared in the Johnson City Press and Kingsport Times)
To the Editor:
We the undersigned duly elected constables would like to respond to your opinion on constables and set the record straight, since your opinion has information that is not accurate. The conduct and cases against William Creasy are for the courts to decide. You should not try cases in newspapers since every person under the Constitution has a right to a fair trial judged by his peers. Most people elected to the office of constable are honorable, dedicated, and volunteer their work.
Under TCA 8-10-101 a constable must attend a 40-hour class after being sworn in. They complete 40 hours in-service training each year thereafter. They must take firearms training and be certified on the firearm they carry. They must pass a written test to hold office. Some constables have been in office for many years, serving faithfully and proudly without fear or favor.
Every occupation may at times have someone get outside the scope of the law but you don’t condemn all for the act of one. In the day and time with so much violence in our country we need all the law enforcement we can get. The presence of patrol cars and uniformed officers reduces crime and often stops crimes before they are committed.
The East Tennessee Constables Association will come together in September to do their annual in-service training. We invite you to attend and see what kind of training they receive and the instructors they have, then hopefully you will write a new opinion filled with facts and first-hand knowledge.
Thank you for permitting our article to run in your newspaper.

Dustin Baker, Harvey Shaffer, Rodger K. Jones, Henry L. Price, J. Scott Anderson, Robert Kent Harris, and Kenneth N. Potter