JEFFERSON TWP — Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein is being criticized by county and municipal officials for his behavior following a D.A.R.E. graduation Thursday morning at the South Butler Intermediate Elementary School.

County Sheriff Mike Slupe, whose office conducts the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in schools, said Eckstein’s conduct was unacceptable, considering the 195 fifth graders weren’t dismissed yet.

“These are 11-year-old children,” Slupe said.

He said Eckstein swore using the F-word while complaining he did not have the opportunity to speak at the graduation.

Slupe said Eckstein made the comment: “So, you f*** a commissioner.”

The sheriff said Eckstein’s remarks were totally uncalled for.

“He disrespected the kids, he disrespected the school, he disrespected the office of sheriff,” Slupe said.

Eckstein confirmed he uttered the expletive, but insisted the students were out of earshot.

“No kid heard it,” he said.

Slupe estimated the students were seated 15 to 20 feet away, but some of them may have been closer than that while roaming around the room. He could not verify if any children heard his verbal exchange with the commissioner.

Eckstein said there was too much commotion for the students, who were leaving their seats, to hear the private conversation between the sheriff and him.

“The assembly was over,” Eckstein said.

He said if anyone beyond two other adults knew what was said, it was due to Slupe’s subsequent exclamation: “He said ‘You dropped the F bomb.’ He just repeated it two or three times.”

Slupe denied Eckstein’s claim. “That’s an out and out lie. I never said that. I said don’t use that language.”

School Principal Richard Cavett and district spokesman Jason Davidek could not be reached for comment.

Saxonburg District Judge Sue Haggerty, who overheard the conversation, questioned Eckstein’s approach.

“There’s a time and place to address issues,” Haggerty said.

Saxonburg Mayor Pam Bauman also was offended to hear the cursing.

“I was shocked,” Bauman said.

She said Eckstein’s conduct was unbecoming of a public official.

Eckstein, who was late to the graduation, and Slupe agree Eckstein asked to speak upon arriving.

While a deputy conducted the graduation, Slupe told Eckstein he was late and his office did not know he was coming.

Eckstein replied he “checked in.”

He said in the interview he may have been mistaken about having told Slupe’s office ahead of time that he was coming Thursday.

According to Slupe, there was no opportunity to interrupt the graduation to let Eckstein speak.

Along with Slupe and Haggerty, Commissioner Bill McCarrier spoke to the students.

McCarrier pointed out there were other officials in attendance, including South Butler School Board members and a representative from state Sen. Don White’s office, who did not give speeches.

“If they let all of us speak, it would take forever,” McCarrier said.

Bauman said Eckstein’s reaction was unwarranted.

“I didn’t speak, and it did not cross my mind to use that word,” she said.

Eckstein, the sole Democrat commissioner, said the real reason he wasn’t given time was politics.

“This is, point blank, political retaliation,” he said.

Slupe, who is Republican, said Eckstein would have been given a chance to speak had he arrived on time.

“If he showed up like everyone else, he would have been given the opportunity,” Slupe said.

He said Eckstein is too concerned with wanting a platform to speak at D.A.R.E. presentations.

“This program is about recognizing children,” Slupe said. “This program is not about one person or elected official.”

Eckstein countered that Slupe was the one who did not possess the correct motivation in rebuking him.

“He’s not doing this for the kids,” Eckstein said.

Slupe said Eckstein’s comments typically revert to one topic.

“He talks about himself,” Slupe said.

Eckstein denied his speeches are centered on self promotion.

“That is categorically false,” he said.

Eckstein, who is the liaison on the Butler County Commissioners’ Council on Drugs and Alcohol, said he tells students about his choice to not smoke or take drugs, living a clean lifestyle.

“I talk from the heart,” he said.

Eckstein said even if the students heard him, it wouldn’t be their introduction to the curse word. He insisted children that age already would have learned the expletive just by riding a school bus.

Eckstein said officials should be concerned about what is truly harmful to children.

“Let’s worry about drugs,” he said.

Slupe said Eckstein’s behavior will lead to changes in who attends D.A.R.E. functions.

“Due to the actions of this commissioner, I will be instructing the D.A.R.E. deputies to adjust the invitation list,” Slupe said.

Eckstein said Slupe was motivated purely by politics.

“If he wants to make political hay out of this, it’s politically driven,” Eckstein said.

McCarrier, who did not hear the cursing, also questioned his fellow commissioner’s conduct.

“If that’s what he said, it is inarguably an inappropriate setting,” McCarrier said.

Eckstein reiterated the criticism is solely due to retribution.

“It’s a political witch hunt,” he said.

Slupe lamented over the program ending on a sour note.

“It’s a shame something like this had to occur,” he said.