Myrkentown Constabulary

The Myrkentown Constabulary is an official organization sworn to and empowered by the Governor to uphold and enforce the law within the boundaries of Myrken Wood. They are predominantly active within Myrkentown, to which they were initially limited by their original charter (hence their name), but their area of jurisdiction was later expanded to include Foggy Bottom and other centres of population, and they are now authorised to operate anywhere within Myrken's borders.

Purpose

The Constabulary's primary responsibility involves protecting the security and safety of the public and of private individuals. Duties include maintaining public order (also known as the Peace), preventing or investigating criminal activity against the public, private individuals and property, and apprehending those involved in perpetrating such acts in order that they may be brought to justice.

Organization

The Constabulary is divided into two main branches:

Street Constables are the uniformed officers tasked with patrolling the streets of Myrkentown, and serve primarily as a deterrent to unlawful acts, and also to provide fast on-the-ground response to reported criminal acts or to citizens in distress. Street Constables are expected to be in uniform while on duty, as visible representatives of the Constabulary and the Peace they protect.

Detective Constables are responsible for investigating criminal acts, interviewing witnesses, and gathering the necessary information that will allow a perpetrator to be apprehended and brought to justice. While this involves a certain degree of paperwork, Detective Constables are also required to spend a proportion of their time on patrol with Street Constables, to promote cooperation and camaraderie between the two branches and to keep the Detective Constables in touch with the communities they protect.

Powers

Arrest, Search and Questioning

By virtue of the Oath sworn on joining the Constabulary and the Warrant carried as part of their duties, each Constable is empowered to arrest, search and question individuals they suspect of committing or intending to commit unlawful acts; to search the property of any individual so arrested and seize any contraband or goods which may serve as evidence in bringing the individual to justice; and to detain individuals charged with committing unlawful acts prior to their appearance in court.

Requesting Assistance

Citizens are compelled by law to render reasonable aid and cooperation when requested by a Constable in the performance of his duties. Failure to do so may be considered an unlawful act, and can result in arrest and prosecution.

In certain circumstances Constables may also call upon the Militia or similar officially-sanctioned bodies for support when increased strength is required to preserve the Peace, ie: riots and suchlike large disturbances of public order. Such drastic measures are usually only taken when ordered by senior Constables.

Reasonable Force

Constables are sanctioned to use reasonable force in the performance of their duties. This is generally defined as being the minimum level of force required to render a suspect no longer a danger to the public or to the Constable attempting to arrest him, and is expected to be non-lethal in all but the most extreme of circumstances (ie: when the suspect presents a clear and immediate danger to members of the public). A Constable performing an arrest in which the suspect is killed or severely injured will be expected to justify his actions to the satisfaction of his superiors. If excessive force is determined to have been used, the Constable may find himself facing disciplinary action, up to and including trial for assault or murder.

Uniform and Equipment

Uniform

A Street Constable's uniform consists of a dark grey tunic, dark grey leggings. A wide leather belt carries the Constable's truncheon, cuffs and other equipment. A cloak or coat of dark grey wool may be worn while on patrol in cold or inclement weather. Buttons, buckles and other fittings are made of brass. Constables also receive an allowance towards a pair of sturdy patrol boots.

Detective Constables are not required to wear uniform while on duty, but are expected to dress in a manner befitting the gravity and authority of their office.

Constabulary Badge

The Constabulary Badge takes the form of a small shield of polished brass approximately the width of a man's palm. The front is embossed with the coat of arms of the Office of the Governor of Myrken Wood, whose laws and whose Peace the Constables are oath-sworn to uphold. The shape of the badge is a reminder that the Law is to be used as a shield to protect innocent citizens from criminality, not as a weapon by which the citizenry might be oppressed. On the reverse side is stamped the words of the Governor's Warrant, granting the Constable who carries the Badge the powers of their office as detailed above. In this way it serves as marker of office and a legal document combined, and as such a Constable bearing a Constabulary Badge also bears the backing of the Governor.

Street Constables customarily wear the Badge either on the breast of their tunic or as a cloak pin, though it may also be worn on the belt provided it is clearly visible. Detective Constables are not required to wear the Badge openly, and may carry it instead in a leather wallet to be displayed when identifying themselves as Constables.

Equipment

During the hours of daylight Myrkentown's streets are more crowded, but usually more secure; Constables on Day Watch thus bear only light arms and armour, as their duties tending more towards providing a visible presence for the reassurance of the populace. Day Watch patrols are usually comprised of two constables.

Given the range of horrors, monsters and assorted creatures of the night that infest Myrken Wood, Constables assigned to Night Watch duties are typically more heavily armed and armoured than their daytime counterparts. Night Watch patrols are always comprised of at least two officers, and three-man patrols are not uncommon.

Armour

Day Watch armour consists of hardened leather shoulder pauldrons (bearing insignia of the Constable's rank), knee cops and vambraces, and a steel sallet. Further armour is available for use in situations where violence is anticipated, for example crowd-control during riots and other large-scale breaches of the Peace.

Night Watch armour consists of a mailshirt, steel shoulder pauldrons (bearing insignia of the Constable's rank), hardened leather knee cops and vambraces, and a steel sallet. Many Night Watch officers also favour sturdy leather gauntlets and heavy boots, though these are optional.

Weapons

Day Watch Constables are restricted to carrying either a truncheon or a quarterstaff (depending on personal preference) in the course of their standard duties, in keeping with the Constabulary's focus on public order rather than military defense. Such weapons are considered adequate to deal with most situations a Constable might be reasonably expected to face, while minimising the risk of death or serious injury to both the Constable and the suspect.

Night Watch Constables face fewer restrictions on carrying weapons due to the perilous nature of Myrkentown's streets at night; Night Watch patrols universally carry at least one lantern-pole, and in addition to the standard truncheon or quarterstaff each man is permitted to bear a falchion, a crossbow, a halberd, or some combination of the three.

Officers of the Peace

Detective Constables

• Constable Elias Forsythe
• Constable Kurt Lentham
• Constable Charles McCoy (deceased)

Street Constables

• Constable Gerard Gerhardt
• Constable Alla Breve
• Constable Elliot Henderson