By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 25, 1999

LAPLACE – For Donald “Donoo” Brady, being honored as the 1998 Constable of the Year by the Louisiana Justice of the Peace and Constable Association is nothing to brag of.

“It doesn’t mean I’m the best constable in the state,” he said, adding it was because of his politicking and campaigning on behalf of the association to the Legislature.

“We’re the grassroots law enforcement in the state of Louisiana,” Brady, 62, said, explaining his role.

He’s served as constable for 15 years, working now with District 5 Justice of the Peace Karen Bailey, who is serving her third term in office.

Brady himself worked two terms with Karen’s sister-in-law, June Bailey in District 4.

“She retired and I moved to District 5,” he explained.

Brady, who’s retired from the insurance business, got involved by talking to Jerry Clement, Brian Hymel and Irvin Tregre back in 1983, the same year he was honored for having the funniest beard in a beard-growing contest for the LaPlace Centennial.

There was no incumbent in District 4 and, with seven people in the race, he squeaked out a win on his first try at the post. “I thought I had time todo this job and do it well,” he recalled.

His primary duties involve serving eviction notices and working with the Justice of the Peace small-claims court. “A lot of people think thatjustices and constables are dead-heads. We earn our little bit of money,”Brady emphasized.

“I like to get between the landlords and tenants and smooth things over,” he said.

Such a function relieves judges at the district court level from such day- to-day drudgery and helps them perform their jobs more efficiently.

Also, should the need arise in an emergency situation, Brady and all constables are commissioned deputies. Brady also pointed out that, on thelocal level, only a constable is empowered to arrest a sheriff, as none of his deputies can legally do that.

Brady said all constables attend annual training conferences with Louisiana Attorney General Richard Ieyoub.

His recent honor as Constable of the Year came for his legislative campaigning for increased pay and other laws to ease the performance of their jobs.

On a personal level, Brady is divorced with one daughter, Becky Eisenberg of Metairie, a granddaughter, Rachel, 3, and a grandson, due May 10.

“I never had a son so I’m planning to take him fishing a lot,” Brady said, smiling. His other interests include cooking and golf.

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