State and federal officials support adding Butler County sheriff's deputies to the district attorney's drug task force.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-3rd, is among those who sent letters of support for the proposal to Sheriff Mike Slupe, District Attorney Richard Goldinger and the county commissioners.

According to Kelly's letter, “I applaud this effort and want you to know that I fully support your undertaking to rid our county of drug dealers.”

Along with Kelly's letter dated May 5, the county received a May 8 letter signed by eight state legislators.

Seven of the officials are state representatives Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th; Brian Ellis, R-11th; Aaron Bernstine, R-10th; R. Lee James, R-64th; Jim Marshall, R-14th; Tedd Nesbit, R-8th; and Jeff Pyle, R-60th.

State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-21st, is the eighth legislator.

According to the state officials' letter, “We fully support your joint efforts to add our fine deputy sheriffs to the Butler County Drug Task Force. We hope that the county commissioners will support this effort.”

The county salary board, which is comprised of the commissioners and the controller, would have to approve the cross-designation of 16 deputies, who also are certified police officers, as county detectives.

Although Slupe came up with the idea, Goldinger is the row officer who would have to officially propose it. While Goldinger has a vote, Slupe does not in this case.

The sheriff maintains the recommendation is meant to be part of the county's efforts against the war on drugs.

Although Goldinger said he is not short-staffed, he is receptive to the proposition. Goldinger previously said he would not be ready to bring the subject before the salary board before July.

The commissioners' stance is they want more information before proceeding.

Controller Ben Holland has no objection to the cross designation, but reiterated the designation change is more of a funding issue, which is the purview of the commissioners.

Any overtime accrued by deputies working for the task force would be reimbursed by Goldinger's office, which receives state funding for the task force.

Further support for the proposal came at a packed commissioners meeting Thursday.

More than 70 people crammed in the county government center meeting room.

Attorney Tom King, who is Slupe's solicitor and counsel for the Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association, organized the turnout.

King urged the commissioners to support Slupe's pitch for the benefit of the county.

“This problem is now in our backyard,” King said.

King referred to recent drug arrests in the county, including one in which heroin was being sold near the police station.

William Pettigrew, interim Butler School District superintendent, agreed with King.

“There's absolutely no excuse deputy sheriffs can't handle this,” Pettigrew said.

Pastor Joel Ward of Calvary Baptist Church in Jefferson Township, where most of the crowd came from, added his support.

Ward delivered an emotional plea, speaking about members of his church helping children living in homes where drugs were present.

“They tell me about drugs on the table,” Ward said, starting to cry.

Norma Norris, executive director of CANDLE Inc., a Butler nonprofit organization devoted to preventing substance abuse, stressed the drug crisis has not peaked yet.

Norris said the deputies need to be added to the drug task force.

“We got to take advantage of that regardless of the cost,” she said.

Deputies already are authorized to make drug arrests, but require the cross-designation to initiate an investigation.

Slupe has 24 full-time deputies and four part-timers.