Joseph Topol Appointed to Vacant Constable Spot

By Kim Siebert MacPhail

Joining three others—Sheila E. Howard, Lewis M. Putney and Anthony J. Saia—Joseph Topol of Carlisle was named by Selectmen on July 22 to fill the fourth Town Constable position and will serve a three –year term. Topol provided extensive documentation regarding his qualifications for the job, including five required written character references from his town of residence. He will serve simultaneously as Constable in three other towns: Carlisle, Concord and Lincoln.

Before the Selectmen unanimously appointed Topol to fill the vacancy, it was noted that Constables do not have to reside in the town that they serve and that the scope of Constables’ duties is broader than those of a process server, but narrower than those of a police officer.

Commonly, Town Constables serve civil process papers as directed by Town government; they also deliver subpoenas, summonses, warrants and other notices in matters such as divorce proceedings for which they receive compensation from the issuing attorney on a pro-rated basis.  Other duties for Massachusetts constables, as enumerated by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, can include preserving the peace, preventing crime and making arrests for which warrants are not needed. https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=68281

Topol has been a licensed private detective since 1991, and an auxiliary police officer for the City of Newton since 2008; he also has a license to carry a concealed weapon, although Topol reported that he has never had to use it while carrying out his duties as Constable.

“I’ve never had an issue,” Topol said. “I also carry Mace and that would be the first step.  A lot of times you get involved in civil and domestic [matters]. You go to someone’s house and you’re by yourself, most of the time—it could be an eviction. It’s for my safety, if I don’t have the option of having someone else there with me.”