The Butler Area School District is one step closer to improving district security through changes and advancements in school policing.
By a unanimous vote by the school board on Monday, the district continued to take steps in creating a Municipal School Police Force. District administrators and the solicitor will now file a petition with the Butler County Court of Common Pleas to give 27 current school police officers all lawful powers and authorities under Act 44 of the Public School Code. Act 44 was signed into law by Governor Wolf in June.
Basically, creating a Municipal School Police Force will allow Butler’s school police officers more leeway in making arrests and carrying weapons, such as tasers and handcuffs.
Retired State Trooper Paul Epps has been named the district’s School Safety and Security Coordinator/Officer in Charge, reporting directly to Superintendent Dr. Brian White. Officers of the school police force will continue to receive weapons training from Butler County Sheriff deputies. White will also ensure the school police department prepares and adopts legally-appropriate policies necessary for the job.
Butler employs 27 officers, who are all retired state troopers.
School administrators recently met with representatives of various law enforcement agencies across the district to make sure everyone is comfortable with how the school police will be performing their duties. According to district solicitor Tom King, “This is not a force that is going to replace them, this is not a force that is going to eliminate the need for them, what it is, is a force that will compliment them.”
Written By: Ryan Saeler for the Butler Radio Network
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