Butler County deputy sheriffs wear one uniform, but many hats, some of which are, admittedly, nicerthan others.

On any given day, a deputy could be called to educate a kindergartner or transport a killer.

They guard the courts, serve Protection From Abuse orders, evict those who have lost their homes and arrest criminals.

"We do some of the nastiest things in the nicest of ways," said six-term Sheriff Dennis Rickard.

As the office's responsibilities continue to grow, so too does the standard expected from deputies.

"The image of us just giving a badge and a gun to anyone has long since been shed," Rickard said. "The level of professionalism in this office is equal to or exceeding any in the state. They take a backseat to no one."

At a minimum, newcomers to the badge have standard police training, as well as specialized deputy training and two years of college.

The bulk of the deputies has a four-year degree or more.

"And they must be of good moral character," said Rickard, who encourages his office to be involved in community organizations.

Rickard said he leads by example, and hopes deputies will follow.

Rickard earned his bachelor's degree in psychology and his master's in guidance and counseling, both at Slippery Rock University.

Prior to becoming sheriff, he was a county probation officer.

He is involved in numerous community activities, including the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts, the Pennsylvania Sheriff's Association and the National Sheriff's Association.

The sheriff's office, one of the few law enforcement bodies led by an elected official, has 23 full-time and 18 part-time deputies.

Additionally, the office has a handful of clerical staff and posses of people deputized for limited purposes. For example, during Rickard's tenure, the county has had to call a mounted posse, as well as a pilots posse.

But those times are rare.

More common is the deputies' most public role of securing the Butler County Court House and Government Center.

There, deputies greet all visitors with an X-ray machine and a metal detector.

They also sit in courtrooms while court is in session and well into the night when juries are determining a trial verdict.

"No judge is left unprotected," Rickard said.

But Sgt. William Luchkiw said although the county government buildings are where you are most likely to see a deputy, it's just the tip of the iceberg as far as their responsibilities go.

"People see us here in the lobby and think that's all we do. Or they see us in the courtroom and think we are just standing around. … There's a perception that we are just security guards," Luchkiw said. "The best part of this job is that it is something different every day. … Things can change in a moment's notice."

To cite a few examples, the office is often responsible after a trial for destroying evidence that prosecutors do not want back on the streets, such as guns, drugs and poker machines.

Outside of the courthouse, deputies patrol all county-owned property, including Alameda Park and the Sunnyview Nursing Home complex.

They assist municipal police departments and school districts when necessary, and execute arrest warrants in the county, as well as around the country.

They all have arrest powers and carry weapons.

They move county prison inmates to and from hearings, as well as to the hospital, other counties' prisons and wherever else they need to be taken.

Last year, deputies moved inmates more than 6,000 times.

"This is not a 9 to 5 job," Rickard said. "It's 24-7."

Although deputies work regular shifts, they are on call in case of inmate emergencies or late night warrant arrests.

On the civil side of the law, the office is responsible for more than 5,200 civil processes a year, which can include serving a Protection From Abuse order, a warrant, notice of a civil suit or mortgage foreclosure.

"In my first year in office (1982), we served 60 PFAs a year," Rickard said. "Now, we can serve that many in one month."

The office also is responsible for gold licenses, gun sales licenses, gun permit sales and sale of property in which the owner is delinquent on a debt.

"We are limited in what we can do only by our money and our manpower," Rickard said.

Among the deputies is a K-9 officer and his canine counterpart, Disco, who assist municipalities when needed.

The office has two trained Drug Abuse Resistance Education officers who educate young people in the county. The officers host about 50 DARE classes a month.

In the office's motor pool is one car designed just for the DARE program; an eight-person van and a 12-person van to transport inmates; two unmarked police cars; and five marked cars.

Deputies

are some

of the few non-union

employees

at the county, and pay starts at $13.50 an hour.

Rickard admits that's on the low side for the type of training and qualifications he expects.

"They are not paid a king's ransom," he said.

It's not unusual for deputies to supplement their salaries by working part-time at local police departments.

So respected is the sheriffs office that other law enforcement agencies have lured many deputies to their own departments for full-time positions. Deputy sheriffs have gone on to become municipal and state police, secret service and border patrol officers.

"We've lost 70-some deputies in the last 10 years," Rickard said.

Luchkiw of Center Township was hired in 1999, when Rickard offered jobs to the top five graduates of Luchkiw's police academy class through Indiana (Pa.) University.

Luchkiw, who also has an associate's degree in criminology from Butler County Community College, said he enjoys his job and the challenges it presents.

"We have a good bunch of guys, and working with them makes it easier to do the job," he said.