Constable's superior as painter we're told (8)

I believe the answer is:

sergeant

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'constable's' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for sergeant that I've seen before include "Noncommissioned military officer" , "Military or police officer" , "NCO; Death a fell one, Hamlet" , "Soldier and lover in Hardy novel" , "Estrange from junior army officer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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