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WEBVTT AFTERNOON OR EVENING IF WE GETENOUGH EATING FROM THE SUN.WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ENTIREWEEK'S WEATHER IN A LITTLEWHILE.MARIA: 5 INVESTIGATES WITH NEWCONCERNS OVER CONSTABLES INMASSACHUSETTS AND THE POWERSTHEY ARE GRANTED.ED: IT COMES AFTER A BAY STATECONSTABLE WAS ARRESTED IN NEWHAMPSHIRE ALLEGEDLY SELLINGHEROIN.KAREN ANDERSON HAS BEEN FOCUSINGON THIS ISSUE FOR THE PAST YEARKAREKAREN: THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN, NEW CALLS FOR REFORM CHANGINGTHE AUTHORITY GIVEN TOCONSTABLES AND THE PROCESS FORHOW THEY COME INTO POWER.THIS NEW DRUG ARREST IS JUST THELATEST INCIDENT OF A CONSTABLEIN TROUBLEIT IS A SPOT OFTEN FILLED WITHYOUNG CHILDREN AND PARENTS, THEPARKING LOT OF BABIES R US INSALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE.POLICE WATCHED 47-YEAR-OLDRAFAEL CONCEPTUAL -- CONCECIONSELLING OR WHEN.WHEN THEY SEARCHED HIM, HE WASCARRYING THIS -- A MASSACHUSETTSCONSTABLE BADGE.HE IS AN APPROVED CONSTABLE INTHE BAY STATE, GIVEN AUTHORITYIN THE CITY OF LAWRENCE TO SERVECIVIL PAPERWORK LIKE SUBPOENASOR HELP LANDLORDS IF THETENANTS.HE HAS BEEN A CONSTABLE IN THECITY ON AND OFF SINCE 2011.CONSTABL IN MASSACHUSETTS CAMEUNDER SCRUTINY LAST YEAR WHENBOSTON CONSTABLE CURT FIGAROENDED UP IN A SHOOT OUT WITHOFFICERS.I FOUND THAT CONSTABLES HADBROUGHT AUTHORITIES STATUTESTHAT ARE CENTURIES OLD.>> IN FACT, IN A LOT OF WAYS,THEY HAVE THE SAME POWERS ASPOLICE OFFICERS.IN FACT, THEY COULD ARREST YOUON THE WEEKEND AND HOLD YOU ANDYOUR CELLAR UNTIL THE COURTSOPENED UP.KAREN: THIS BILL IS PENDING ONBEACON HILL THAT WOULD LETCONSTABLES SERVE CIVIL PROCESSBUT WOULD STRIP THEIR CRIMINAL, ARREST POWERS AND BAR THEMFROM PASSING THEMSELVES OFF ASLAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

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The arrest of a Massachusetts constable in New Hampshire for allegedly selling heroin in a New Hampshire Babys "R" Us parking lot is raising new concerns over the powers these loosely regulated officials have as calls for reform continue on Beacon Hill.Police said they watched last week as 47-year-old Rafael Concepcion of Methuen sold 8 grams of heroin in the parking lot for $110.When police searched him he was carrying a Massachusetts constables badge with his name on it. 5 Investigates found that Concepcion is an approved constable in the Bay State, given authority by the city of Lawrence this April to serve civil paperwork like subpoenas or help landlords evict tenants.Documents show Concepcion has been a constable in the city on and off since 2011, and until now, last active in 2015.Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera has suspended his constable appointment.Constables in Massachusetts came under scrutiny last year when Boston constable Kirk Figueroa ended up in a shootout with Boston Police, wounding and nearly killing two officers. He was given a constable’s license despite a checkered past.5 Investigates found that constables had brought authority from laws based statutes that are centuries old. It’s up to cities and towns, which appoint them, to decide how thorough of a background check to perform.Their statutory authority includes arresting and holding someone despite having no required training. Massachusetts Public Safety Secretary Dan Bennett told 5 Investigates’ Karen Anderson in October that he would push for reform.“They have extensive powers there to arrest. And in fact, they have in a lot of ways the same powers as police officers. And in fact, they would arrest you in the weekend and hold you in their cellar until the courts opened up,” Bennett said at the time.There is a bill pending on Beacon Hill that would let constables serve civil process but would strip their criminal arrest powers and bar them from passing themselves off as law enforcement officers.“Sec. Bennett’s view is that constables should be allowed to serve civil process, but they should not be allowed to make criminal arrests and should not be allowed to present themselves as police officers or members of a law enforcement agency. We look forward to continuing working with our legislative partners to advance reforms that address these deficiencies in the law,” a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said in a statement.