(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), every constable shall take an oath that the constable will well and truly serve the state in the office of constable; that the constable will faithfully, and without delay, execute and return all lawful process directed to the constable; and that the constable will well and truly, according to the constable’s power and ability, do and execute all other duties of the office of constable.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 8-10-108

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Oath: includes affirmation. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
(b) In counties having a population of:

not less than

nor more than

3,700

4,700

6,000

7,800

8,400

8,500

8,535

8,540

9,200

9,570

10,770

10,780

11,500

11,511

11,512

11,550

11,700

11,900

12,060

12,500

12,550

13,000

14,500

14,600

15,300

15,500

15,750

16,000

17,000

17,350

18,000

18,200

18,300

18,900

19,000

19,100

19,130

19,140

21,000

21,500

21,600

22,300

23,200

23,350

23,355

23,391

23,391

23,450

23,500

23,750

24,000

24,255

25,600

27,500

27,900

28,000

28,555

28,600

28,825

28,827

29,250

31,250

31,260

33,000

33,700

34,000

35,480

41,800

41,900

50,000

57,550

59,400

59,500

60,050

60,600

62,000

64,000

65,000

101,000

118,400

118,700

200,000

according to the 1960 federal census or any subsequent federal census, and in Fentress County and Hamblen County, every constable shall take an oath that the constable will well and truly serve the state in the office of constable; that the constable will cause the peace of the state to be kept, to the best of the constable’s power; that the constable will arrest all such persons as go in the constable’s sight armed offensively, or who commit any riot, affray, or other breach of the peace, or will use the constable’s best endeavor, on complaint made, to apprehend all felons, rioters, or persons riotously assembled; and that, if such persons flee or make resistance, the constable will pursue, and make hue and cry, according to law; that the constable will faithfully, and without delay, execute and return all lawful process directed to the constable; and that the constable will well and truly, according to the constable’s power and ability, do and execute all other duties of the office of constable.

(c) The oath of office may be administered to the constable by any judge of the court of general sessions or other judicial officer of the constable’s county.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law or interpretation thereof to the contrary, the constables in counties having a population of not less than thirteen thousand five hundred sixty-five (13,565) nor more than thirteen thousand six hundred (13,600), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall continue to be vested with all law enforcement powers and authority conferred upon other constables by subsection (b) and §§ 39-17-505, 40-6-210, 40-6-212, 55-8-152, 57-9-101, 57-9-103 and 57-9-201.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the constables in counties having a population of not less than seventeen thousand four hundred seventy-five (17,475) nor more than seventeen thousand five hundred seventy-five (17,575), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census, shall be vested with all law enforcement powers and authority conferred upon other constables by subsection (b) and §§ 39-17-505, 40-6-210, 40-6-212, 55-8-152, 57-9-101, 57-9-103 and 57-9-201.
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