Constables; election or appointment; powers and duties; salary; fees; provisions inapplicable to certain cities; compliance with minimum employment standards.
MCL 117.32
in effect117.32. Constables; election or appointment; powers and duties; salary; fees; provisions inapplicable to certain cities; compliance with minimum employment standards.
Sec. 32.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), there may be elected or appointed in each city 1 or more constables who shall have the same powers and authorities in civil and criminal matters, and in relation to the service of process, civil and criminal, as are conferred by law on constables in townships. A city, by ordinance, may abolish, restrict, and limit the authority conferred upon a constable by law, except that a city constable may be appointed by a district court as a district court officer and may perform duties permitted pursuant to chapter 83 of the revised judicature act of 1961, Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended, being sections 600.8301 to 600.8395 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Except as otherwise provided in section 8707 of Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961, being section 600.8707 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, and section 742 of the Michigan vehicle code, Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, being section 257.742 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, a constable shall serve all process issued for breaches of ordinances of the city. A city may by ordinance provide for the appointment of additional constables except that the maximum number of persons who may be appointed as constables shall not exceed the number of elected constables provided for in the charter of the city on September 23, 1949. An appointed or elected constable may be paid a salary in addition to fees.
(2) This section does not apply to a city that has a population of 500,000 or more.
(3) A constable shall serve all warrants, notices, and process lawfully directed to the constable by the city and shall perform other duties required of a constable by law. A city, by ordinance, may restrict or limit the duties of a city constable prescribed by law. If the city requires the constable to perform both statutory criminal and civil duties, a person elected or appointed to the office of city constable shall fulfill the minimum employment standards established by the law enforcement council pursuant to section 9 of the Michigan law enforcement officers training council act of 1965, Act No. 203 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended, being section 28.609 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The cost of complying with these standards shall be borne by the city.
1909, Act 279, Eff. Sept. 1, 1909; CL 1915, 3335; CL 1929, 2268; CL 1948, 117.32; Am. 1949, Act 71, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949; Am. 1971, Act 26, Imd. Eff. May 13, 1971; Am. 1976, Act 408, Imd. Eff. Jan. 9, 1977; Am. 1994, Act 17, Eff. May 1, 1994
Source: Michigan Legislature (legislature.mi.gov)URL: https://legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-117-32Fetched: 10/20/2026