Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
All Credit for this article
goes to the
Baytown Sun
goes to the
Baytown Sun
Constable Tries To Use Human Touch
Law enforcement officer has witnessed many changes
The Baytown Sun - September 27, 1985
ROCKDALE (AP) — Thirteen years have passed since H.N. "Spud" Caywood pinned on a lawman's badge, strapped a pistol to his hip and fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a law enforcement officer.
Caywood's system of law enforcement is simple. "When I arrest somebody, I try to treat them like I would want them to treat me if I was in their shoes," Caywood said. "I think it has paid off for me."
Caywood, Milam County constable for Precinct 4 — which includes the Rockdale-Thorndale area — operates his constable's office in the rustic surroundings of his gun shop on North Wilcox Street in Rockdale.
Dressed in cowboy clothes, boots and hat, and armed with one of his favorite six-shooters, Caywood, 71, could easily pass for a lawman of the Old West. Caywood, who said he is a skilled marksman, has never fired his gun in the line of duty. "When I first got to be a police officer, I had to draw my gun on several people, but I never did have to shoot anybody," Caywood said.
"I always told them that if they ever jumped on me, I was too old and crippled to fight them_ and that I would have to shoot them. I never did have to shoot anybody.
"There's been some people I was maybe scared of. Well, not really scared. I just wasn't going to get scared, 'cause I would have shot them and I think they all knew it," he said.
The walls of his gun shop are lined with certificates from law enforcement schools, photographs, a collection of pistols and rifles and several valuable mementos. Hanging on a wall is a framed, authentic 19th-century wanted poster of the notorious Texas outlaw Bill Longley.
In the center of a group of photographs is one of his most treasured items — a plaque given to him recently when he was named Milam County Lawman of the Year. Caywood said he cannot understand why he was chosen for the honor. But to the community, Caywood is a friend as well as a law officer.
"The difference between Spud and other law officers is that Spud adds a human element to law enforcement," said Jay Wilson of Rockdale. "Everybody knows if you have a problem, even if you don't live in his precinct, you can call Spud and Spud will get something done about it."
Caywood said he loves his job, adding that "once you get to be a lawman, you either hate it or you love it." No one enters law enforcement for its pay, he said. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the job is arresting friends. But Caywood will give most folks — "unless they are an out-and-out crook" — the opportunity to surrender to him at his gunshop.
"Honest people get charged with things sometimes, too," Caywood said. "I tell them, `If it was me and you were going to arrest me, I would rather I came to see you than have you come *arrest me and bring me in.' That's the way I feel about it and most people feel the same way."
Caywood is described by his friends as one who believes "that what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong."
"It doesn't make any difference whether he knows you or not'," Wilson said. "If you are a fellow who has the influence of 50 votes for him and you do something wrong, you go to jail. It's the same for everybody, It makes no difference."
Caywood said he fears that Texas will follow the trend of several other states which have abolished constables.
"It you do away with constables, the small people - the ones with the complaints who want to talk to a lawman, regardless of how small a complaint is - ain't going to have nobody, because the deputy sheriffs don't have time to fool with you and the city police don't have time."
During the past 13 years, Caywood has had to cope with changes in the law, and now spends a good bit of time studying legal pamphlets.
"Years ago when I first become a constable, I didn't have to have a warrant to arrest somebody," Caywood said. "I could go get them and put them in jail and go the next day and carry them before a justice of the peace.
.
Law enforcement officer has witnessed many changes
The Baytown Sun - September 27, 1985
ROCKDALE (AP) — Thirteen years have passed since H.N. "Spud" Caywood pinned on a lawman's badge, strapped a pistol to his hip and fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a law enforcement officer.
Caywood's system of law enforcement is simple. "When I arrest somebody, I try to treat them like I would want them to treat me if I was in their shoes," Caywood said. "I think it has paid off for me."
Caywood, Milam County constable for Precinct 4 — which includes the Rockdale-Thorndale area — operates his constable's office in the rustic surroundings of his gun shop on North Wilcox Street in Rockdale.
Dressed in cowboy clothes, boots and hat, and armed with one of his favorite six-shooters, Caywood, 71, could easily pass for a lawman of the Old West. Caywood, who said he is a skilled marksman, has never fired his gun in the line of duty. "When I first got to be a police officer, I had to draw my gun on several people, but I never did have to shoot anybody," Caywood said.
"I always told them that if they ever jumped on me, I was too old and crippled to fight them_ and that I would have to shoot them. I never did have to shoot anybody.
"There's been some people I was maybe scared of. Well, not really scared. I just wasn't going to get scared, 'cause I would have shot them and I think they all knew it," he said.
The walls of his gun shop are lined with certificates from law enforcement schools, photographs, a collection of pistols and rifles and several valuable mementos. Hanging on a wall is a framed, authentic 19th-century wanted poster of the notorious Texas outlaw Bill Longley.
In the center of a group of photographs is one of his most treasured items — a plaque given to him recently when he was named Milam County Lawman of the Year. Caywood said he cannot understand why he was chosen for the honor. But to the community, Caywood is a friend as well as a law officer.
"The difference between Spud and other law officers is that Spud adds a human element to law enforcement," said Jay Wilson of Rockdale. "Everybody knows if you have a problem, even if you don't live in his precinct, you can call Spud and Spud will get something done about it."
Caywood said he loves his job, adding that "once you get to be a lawman, you either hate it or you love it." No one enters law enforcement for its pay, he said. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the job is arresting friends. But Caywood will give most folks — "unless they are an out-and-out crook" — the opportunity to surrender to him at his gunshop.
"Honest people get charged with things sometimes, too," Caywood said. "I tell them, `If it was me and you were going to arrest me, I would rather I came to see you than have you come *arrest me and bring me in.' That's the way I feel about it and most people feel the same way."
Caywood is described by his friends as one who believes "that what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong."
"It doesn't make any difference whether he knows you or not'," Wilson said. "If you are a fellow who has the influence of 50 votes for him and you do something wrong, you go to jail. It's the same for everybody, It makes no difference."
Caywood said he fears that Texas will follow the trend of several other states which have abolished constables.
"It you do away with constables, the small people - the ones with the complaints who want to talk to a lawman, regardless of how small a complaint is - ain't going to have nobody, because the deputy sheriffs don't have time to fool with you and the city police don't have time."
During the past 13 years, Caywood has had to cope with changes in the law, and now spends a good bit of time studying legal pamphlets.
"Years ago when I first become a constable, I didn't have to have a warrant to arrest somebody," Caywood said. "I could go get them and put them in jail and go the next day and carry them before a justice of the peace.
.