The Butler Area School District could be the first district in the county to create a Municipal School Police Force.
By unanimous vote by school board members during a meeting on Monday night, the board authorized administrators, the district solicitor and current school police to proceed with the actions necessary to create that new force under the Public School Code.
Similar to the Butler County Community College Police Force, this new force would have the full authority to investigate and arrest, as well as carry tasers and handcuffs. The school board would control who would be hired to the force but officers would receive the latest training and ongoing education.
The district currently pays retired state police troopers to fill the role of school police. It is expected to take several months and cost less than $50,000 in order to get the new police force in place.
Written By: Ryan Saeler for the Butler Radio Network
