Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe testified in front of a legislative committee in Harrisburg on Monday. The veteran law enforcement official is pushing for the passage of a bill granting more authority to sheriffs deputies.

Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe was in Harrisburg Monday testifying before Pennsylvania legislators, pushing for the passage of a bill clarifying the authority of sheriff's offices across the state.

Slupe, in his role as president of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association, spoke to the House State Government Committee, chaired by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12, about House Bill 466, which Slupe said would enable his office to conduct investigations.

Slupe said the reason he testified was “to provide clarification on the arrest and investigatory authority of the sheriff's office due to the numerous conflicting or confusing state court decisions over the years.”

Currently, Slupe's office has the authority to make arrests, even outside county property.

“When it crosses the threshold into an investigation, then we have to stop,” he said.

Slupe cited the example of a drug arrest.

In the county government center lobby or while making an arrest, a deputy may search the individual under the administrative order of the court. Anywhere else, a deputy must rely on what is visible in the absence of a search warrant.

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