Jefferson County v. Stines

I respectfully disagree with the majority on the central question in this case: whether Chapter 174 of the Texas Local Government Code, titled the Fire and Police Employee Relations Act (“FPERA”), applies to Stines, a Jefferson County deputy constable. See Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code Ann. §§ 174.001-174.253 (West 2016). The FPERA defines the term “police officer” to,mean “a paid employee who is sworn,, certified, and full-time, and who regularly serves, in a professional law enforcement capacity in the police department of a political subdivision.” Id. § 174.003(3). I conclude that Stines meets that…