Connellsville constables to take center stage

Move over Edwin S. Porter, Connellsville has two new emerging stars.
Connellsville constables Hubie Coleman and Albert “Rocky” Younkin are among the featured law enforcement officials who will be featured in the Discovery Channel’s new special “Constables on Patrol,” which follows constables from Western Pennsylvania as they work the streets.
“We’re excited,” Coleman said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this to finally premiere.”
The documentary, which also features constables from Erie and Bucks counties, covers what it’s like to work as a constable – from serving arrest warrants to executing eviction orders.

Albert “Rocky” Younkin has been a constable for Connellville for over 50 years and said he hopes the documentary “Constable on Patrol” lets people know what being a constable entails.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Youkin said proudly.
This is not the first time the duo has received national attention for their unique style of public service. In 2010 for their out-of-the-box approach to serve a warrant involved a Steelers-themed black-and-gold van to lure people outside.
“There was a guy that we had been chasing for like three years and everytime we got close to his house, he would take off. Well, we went up there with the Steelers van with a bullhorn telling him he had won two tickets… and the guy ended up coming out with a beer in his hand, and we were able to nab (him),” Younkin said.
Coleman and Younkin made 32 arrests in one night and collected almost $3,000 in fines.
The TikTok³ÉÈË°æ wrote about the tactic in 2010, with Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr. noting that they were able to serve a decade-old warrant with the gimmick.
After the van stunt, Youkin and Coleman said they were inundated with phone calls from law enforcement agencies around the country asking for their advice on how to capture criminals.
“I had Texas Rangers calling me from Texas telling me ‘That was hell of an idea brother. We loved it,'” Younkin said.
Footage from the trailer for “Constables on Patrol” makes the show seem like a comedic version of the 90’s series “Cops,” featuring other unique ways constables serve papers or warrants.
One of the other creative ways the duo used was dressing up as a woman which, given the gigantic stature of both Youkin and Coleman, will likely be an interesting sight.
While there will likely be plenty of laughs during the documentary, the work of a constable can still be dangerous.
“You never know what’s on the other side of that door,” Younkin said.
Most of the footage was taken about 10 years ago, the duo recalled, and the debut of the show was originally attended for the A&E network but was shelved for unknown reasons.
Although the reality show appears to prioritize the comedy and action sequences, Younkin said, he hopes the documentary will help spread awareness about what constables do and draw attention to their training on a state level.
“I don’t think people realize how important constables are to the community,” Coleman said. “We’re like debt collectors, and we generate a lot of money for the county.”
Youkin echoed those sentiments.
“I want this show to let people know what a constable is, nobody knows – not even some of our senators or representatives know what we do…It’s a dangerous but important job,” Younkin said.
The show is set to premiere on Tuesday, March 11 at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel and the channel’s streaming services.