Harrisville police Chief Bill Scheckler talks about Halloween safety.

Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking them five questions. The latest installment appears below.

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Though a few boroughs already hosted trick-or-treat this year, many are scheduled for tonight. Sweet treats are the priority for children, but many parents are thinking of safety.

Here, Harrisville police Chief Bill Scheckler, 44, talks about safety in his borough of less than 900, which is intersected by Routes 8 and 58. Scheckler was interviewed before Harrisville's Halloween hours, held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

QUESTION: How much Halloween activity occurs in Harrisville?ANSWER: I'd say we probably get 500 kids. (During trick-or-treat), we're still getting maybe 1,000 cars an hour.

QUESTION: At a 2-to-1 ratio of cars to kids, how do you coexist with the traffic?ANSWER: I have my officers going out on the four corners of the town, putting flares up. We're out doing traffic stops and being seen, running the sirens so people know we're around. The main goal is pedestrian and kids' safety. Route 8 is very busy.QUESTION: How can families protect themselves?ANSWER: The main thing that really helps the people driving the cars is if the trick-or-treaters are seen. You can do this by (having reflective material as part of) your costume or carrying the glow sticks. They also have necklaces you can wear that flash. Be aware of your surroundings. Walk against traffic if you're walking, so you can see if a vehicle is coming toward you. And make sure you use the crosswalks.

QUESTION: How can families look out for each other?ANSWER: Parents play such an important role. They have to keep an eye on (their) kids. But also keep an eye on the other kids. Don't be afraid to see if everything's OK or call us. ... Sometimes the parents drive and drop their kids off and follow their kids: The parents also need to watch not only where their kids are going from house to house, but their (own) surroundings, so they don't run into a child that's crossing the road.

QUESTION: Do you have a costume?ANSWER: All of our officers will be in our police uniforms. That's our costume for the day.