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Portage Township may elect up to
four constables, as determined
by the Township's Board of
Trustees by resolution at least
six months prior to the
Township's primary election
preceding the general election.
The Township can also eliminate
the office by resolution. If no
determination is made, there
shall be elected the same number
elected in the preceding general
election. If the Constable
office is vacated the Township
Board is authorized to determine
if and when the vacancy shall be
filled. If it is not filled by
the Township Board, the vacancy
continues until the next general
or special election for Township
Officials.
Constables are required to serve
all warrants, notices and
process lawfully directed to
them by the Township's Board,
the Township Clerk or any other
officer and shall perform other
duties as required by law. The
Constables may serve any writ,
process or order lawfully
directed to them by any township
within the County.
The State Attorney General has
determined that Constables are
peace officers under Michigan
law. Before the Constables may
lawfully make arrests, they must
comply with the minimum
employment standards for police
officers in Michigan as
established by the Michigan
Commission on Law Enforcement
Standards. The cost of complying
with these standards are borne
by Portage Township and not the
Constables. They also enforce
all of the local codes and laws
promulgated by Portage Township.
Lastly, these Constables do
liquor control inspections under
the Township's liquor control
ordinance which was approved by
Michigan's Liquor Control
Commission.
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