FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                     FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Monday August 13, 2012                                                                       Constable Bruce Elfant

STATEMENT BY CONSTABLE BRUCE ELFANT

ON THE SHOOTING DEATH OF CONSTABLE BRIAN BACHMANN

We are deeply saddened by the shooting death this afternoon of my colleague Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann who, according to news reports, was serving an eviction order. Constable Bachmann began his law enforcement career as a deputy sheriff for the Brazos County Sheriff’s Department and was elected constable in 2010.

Having served as a Travis County constable for nearly 20 years I fully understand the inherent dangers that constables and their deputies face every day. Texas constables serve as the enforcement arm for our courts.  Every day we carry out court orders to arrest individuals, remove children from abusive conditions, seize property and evict people from their homes. Constables are also responsible for enforcing child support orders and executing family violence protective orders. Quite often when serving court notices or enforcing court orders constables are confronted with hostility, resistance and, on some occasions, deadly force.

Eighty-eight Texas Constables have died in the line of duty while serving their communities. Prior to today’s shooting, Smith County Constable Dale Geddie was killed while responding to a domestic violence call in 2006.

We salute Constable Bachmann for his service to his community as a peace officer. He will be greatly missed by his community and colleagues across Texas. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Constable Bachmann’s wife, Donna, and his children, Colby and Caitlyn.

Additional information on constable duties here: http://www.constable5.com/images/constable_vid.wmv