Constable

Constables were among the oldest town officers of Billerica: in the colonial period the constable collected the town and minister's rates, levied distraints and paid out bounties, and the annual town election was held "for Constable and Townsmen" (selectmen). In the 19th and 20th centuries the town elected two constables every year; they served the warrants for town meetings and elections, acted as keepers of the lock-up and field drivers, and did police work before the town had a regular police department. The two constables were elected annually until the early 1970s, then for three-year terms; from about 1982 they were appointed by the selectmen. Besides these town constables the selectmen also appoint a longer list of bonded constables who serve civil process; those are generally not listed here.