Biography
Relevant Experience: My name is King Merritt and I moved to
the El Paso area in 1980. I earned my bachelor's in Criminal Justice
at UTEP. I have three years of law enforcement experience in New
Mexico and twelve years police experience in Texas. For two years
I served as the Chief of Police in Gregory, TX, and taught at the Del Mar
Regional Police Academy. During that time, I earned my master's
degree in education and returned to El Paso where I worked for the Socorro
Police Department as a patrolman. I am currently an
Adjunct Criminal Justice Instructor at the El Paso Community
College.
Residence: West Side
1. Describe the most important issue for your position.
The most important issue is to restore integrity to the
office of constable. Our current constable, William Burkett, has been
arrested for a total of three felonies since 2004. How can anyone
respect the office of constable?
2. How would you describe the position?
It is important to work well with local judges and law
enforcement officers to achieve the objectives of the job. The majority
of the tasks associated with constable are "civil in nature."
3. Why do constables exist, and why should the public care
about the position?
Constables should exist to help ease the burden of our
already over-booked municipal courts.
4. How would you operate more efficiently and/or cut costs?
Costs can be cut by proper management, staffing and time
management practices.
5. What is the relationship between constables and other law
enforcement?
To be effective, a good working relationship must exist
among city, state and federal law enforcement officers.