Sec. 4. (a) The voters of each township having a small claims court shall elect a constable for the small claims court at the general election every four (4) years for a term of office of four (4) years, beginning January 1 after election and continuing until a successor is elected and qualified. The ballot must state the:
(1) name of the candidate; and
(2) court for which the candidate is to serve.
(b) Each small claims court shall have a constable who:
(1) acts as the bailiff of the court;
(2) serves the court's personal service of process;
(3) has police powers to:
(A) make arrests;
(B) keep the peace; and
(C) carry out the orders of the court;
(4) must meet the qualifications prescribed by IC 3-8-1-31;
(5) is compensated for each process that is delivered to effect personal service when serving as the bailiff for the court;
(6) is responsible for:
(A) the preparation and mailing of all registered or certified service and is compensated for each process served by mail; and
(B) all the official acts of the deputies;
(7) is compensated solely from the service of process fees collected under IC 33-34-8-1; and
(8) may require a deputy to give a bond for the proper discharge of the deputy's duties for an amount fixed by the constable.
(c) The elected constable may appoint full-time and part-time deputies for assistance in the performance of official duties who:
(1) perform all the official duties required to be performed by the constable;
(2) possess the same statutory and common law powers and authority as the constable;
(3) must take the same oath required of the constable;
(4) are compensated solely from the service of process fees collected under IC 33-34-8-1; and
(5) serve at the pleasure of the constable and may be dismissed at any time with or without cause.
(d) If there is an:
(1) emergency; or
(2) inability of a constable to carry out the constable's duties;
the judge may appoint a special constable to carry out the duties of the constable during the emergency or inability.
[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-11.6-8-4.]
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.13.
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