County commissioners Kim Geyer and Leslie Osche are shocked and disappointed that accused synagogue shooter Robert G. Bowers was transported to the Butler County Prison on Tuesday afternoon without their knowledge.

“I'm angry that I found out about this after it occurred,” said Osche, who is the commissioners' chairman. “(Bowers) was here before the warden or sheriff ever notified us.”

The commissioners got an email regarding Bowers' move to Butler at around 3:30 p.m., after he was already housed in the county jail. They said Sheriff Mike Slupe told them he found out at 10:20 a.m. about the decision to move Bowers to Butler.

“I said 'Why did it take five hours to share this with us?'” Geyer said. “He didn't have an answer.”

The pair said they were not told why Bowers was moved to Butler, but said the county has an agreement with federal marshals to take prisoners.

However, Geyer said the prison board of directors, which includes the commissioners, Slupe, District Attorney Rich Goldinger, County Controller Ben Holland and Judge Timothy McCune, is not required by the agreement to accept every prisoner the federal marshals want to bring to the prison.

“The prison board can say 'no,'” Geyer said. “There's no mandate that we take all prisoners.”

The two commissioners said they were told by county solicitor Mike English that Bowers could remain in the jail for years as the legal process drags on in the high-profile case.

“We are really concerned because there are so many implications for the city from a security standpoint,” Osche said, “and the community in general for the disruption this could cause.”

The commissioners were also unable to get an answer from anyone regarding which law enforcement agency transported Bowers from Allegheny County to Butler County.

The commissioners heard that the sheriffs in Allegheny County would not transport him, which causes Osche and Geyer concern, because he will have many court appearances in Pittsburgh during the legal proceedings to come.

“We are going to continue to seek answers from our prison board,” Geyer said.

Osche was incredulous on Tuesday afternoon that Bowers was processed into the county jail without the knowledge of the three county leaders.

“Our concern is the implications and the people this could potentially impact,” Osche said. “We are concerned about the safety of our public and our employees.”

She said Bowers' presence could have the potential to disrupt day-to-day operations of the county, as the jail is just across South Washington Street from the county government center.

The pair said the district attorney also was not informed of the plan to bring Bowers to Butler.

“We are questioning the process at this point,” Osche said. “How was it that this even came about?”

“I'm just extremely disappointed,” Geyer said.

Osche said she has much to think about this evening.

“We now have to ensure that our employees and our community are not only safe, but that we find a way to be mindful of the way that this (shooting) has horrifically affected our Jewish community and families and generally our population across the world,” Osche said.

Slupe said he and Warden Joe DeMore had a tight schedule on Tuesday, and the prison board was notified personally by DeMore after he processed Bowers into the prison.

“The warden notified the prison board as soon as he was able,” Slupe said.