Mike Slupe wants Butler County to be safe for his children.

To help achieve that, the Butler Township police officer is running for county sheriff.

"I want my kids to stay in Butler, and I want them to raise their kids in Butler," Slupe said.

He is running in Tuesday's Republican primary. Sheriff Dennis Rickard is retiring at the end of the year.

As part of that focus on public safety, Slupe would allow the deputies to enforce laws such as the traffic code.

He said deputies wouldn't be sitting in their vehicles waiting for violators, but would be encouraged to pull over reckless motorists.

Slupe stressed his office would work with municipal and state police.

He also wants to address the drug problem in the county by adding a K-9 unit to the office.

The office used to have a drug dog, but the deputy the dog worked with became a Butler Township police officer. The dog retired from duty.

Slupe said the new dog would be available to help police on drug cases.

He also is open to having a bomb dog later.

Slupe said he would continue to support the school-based drug education program DARE, and continue to participate in the Drug Reality Tour, another program which explains the dangers of drugs to students.

"The sheriff's office has a role in drug prevention," he said.

While wanting to expand what the office does now, Slupe doesn't plan on ignoring existing duties such as serving bench warrants and civil processes.

The office is embroiled in a staffing controversy following the county's decision to reduce the number of full-time deputies from 23 to 16 later this year.

Rickard is fighting the reductions. Two county commissioners and the county controller supported the job cuts.

Slupe said he would deal with a possible manpower shortage by prioritizing tasks and justifying a staff increase.

He doesn't support using private security to offset a lack of deputies as was suggested by county officials. Along with not having enough legal authority, private security would not be familiar with people coming off the street, he said.

Slupe said the deputies often know which people are potential security problems.

He intends to have a good working relationship with the commissioners and controller.

"We want to be responsible with the taxpayers' money," Slupe said.

To that effect, he also would work with the controller's office on financial reporting.

There has been a long-running debate between Rickard and Controller Jack McMillin about the financial records of the sheriff's office.

Slupe intends to freeze existing bank accounts for the office and install a software system compatible with the controller's needs.

Slupe, 44, says his leadership skills make him the best candidate for sheriff.

He has 22 years' experience in law enforcement, including serving as a sheriff's deputy and police officer for Evans City and for Callery.

Slupe also has been a Butler 911 dispatcher as well as a Meridian volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.

A Meridian resident, he has two daughters, Brittany, 14, and Kendra, 6.

Slupe is endorsed by three Fraternal Order of Police lodges — 32, 54 and 107 — and the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association.

His opponent in the primary is county detective Scott Roskovski.

Democrat Roland Livermore is running unopposed.