Police

Each member of our department has received specialized training in various aspects of policing. Here are some of these specialized services that our department provides to make our community safer.

Dare

Butler Township Police have two certified DARE instructors. DARE is provided to fifth and eighth grade students at the Drums Elementary and Middle Schools and the Valley Elementary School. Each year over 350 students are provided with necessary information which has developed into the DARE Curriculum.

Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program

Each officer of the Butler Township Police receives specialized training relating by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation relating to various laws pertaining to commercial vehicles. Each officer is certified to work with representatives from Penn Dot to issue citations to commercial vehicles for unsafe conditions, including being overweight.

One officer has received in-depth training and can conduct specialized inspections including examining log books and braking systems. He has the power to place unsafe commercial vehicles and commercial drivers "out of service" until the unsafe condition is corrected. Each inspection is logged and reported to the national database which enables other commercial vehicle inspectors to view the safety record of commercial vehicle carriers.

Accident Reconstruction

Three of seven Butler Township Police Officers are certified as Traffic Accident Reconstructionists. Traffic Accident Reconstruction is a detailed science that is based upon mathematical formulas and other forces that are involved in a motor vehicle collision.

Our reconstructionists are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and respond to all fatal and serious accidents. When a serious or fatal traffic accident occurs, the on-duty officer summons the reconstruction team. Each motor vehicle accident that is investigated consists of many aspects. Each reconstructionist acts as members of a "team" and takes responsibility for a part of the investigation, with one acting as supervisor. Some of the things the reconstruction team is responsible of interviewing, vehicle inspections, accident scene measurement, evidence collection, and supervision of the accident scene.

The team ultimately reviews the facts of the investigation and determines whether criminal charges should be pursued as a result of the accident.

Drug Task Force

The Butler Township Police actively participate with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Drug Task Force. The Task Force has statewide jurisdiction for the pursuit of drug traffickers which destroy our communities. Members of our department have participated in local, state, and federal convert and overt operations which have lead to the seizure of millions of dollars worth of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and various other drugs and the seizure of millions of dollars worth of assets and money.

Our police department works in conjunction with other community based task forces in the area, however, the Attorney General's Task Force is the only one empowered and funded by the state of Pennsylvania to actively and aggressively investigate and prosecute drug users and traffickers. To report drug violations, you are urged to call the Wilkes-Barre Office of the Attorney General at 800-833-4020 or our department.