BUTLER TWP — At 65, James Shearer has grown accustomed to wearing a uniform.

Having served in the Army, then more than 40 years as a Butler Township police officer, Shearer wasn’t going to let retirement change his clothing preference: He plans to umpire high school baseball.

Shearer, who served township police through eight presidents, four township police chiefs and significantly changing times reflected on his tenure at its sunset. His last official day on the force was March 20.

Shearer, promoted in 1991, retired as a sergeant. He was hired as a patrolman by then-chief Metro Poloskey in August 1972.

Back then, he said the weekends in the township were “pretty wild” with 16 bars in the township and 40 bars in the city.

Police used to check stores for break-ins, which were so prevalent that sometimes police officers painted the doors just so they could tell which pry marks were new.

It wasn’t unusual to see bar fights and drivers with blood-alcohol levels from .2 percent to .28 percent as an average.

“Wreckers would position themselves for the night,” Shearer said. “It wasn’t a matter of if we would have a accident, it was when.”

Shearer credits some of the changes in the township to Gary Garman, who was chief from 1986 to 2013. Shearer said in the 1990s the Liquor Control Board and the Butler County District Attorney’s Office also became way more aggressive.

And the state’s legal blood alcohol limit dropped to 0.08 percent.

Today, in the township, most drunken driver’s register about a .1 percent to .16 percent, Shearer said.

“The whole community has changed,” he said.

Current chief John Hays said today there’s still crime in the township, but it’s more along the type that requires research and background investigation like identity theft.

Hays, who described Shearer as dedicated and hardworking, noted that as the times changed, Shearer’s worth ethic did not.

“He never slowed down,” Hays said.

In addition to umpiring in his retirement, Shearer — a history buff — plans to visit museums, play golf and spend time with his family, which includes three grandsons.

“He’s always enjoyed his job. And I’ve always been proud of him,” said Becky Shearer, wife of 43 years. “He’s always done a fantastic job. He raised three boys working two jobs, put them through college and was promoted from patrolman to sergeant. And he has always been supportive of us.”

Shearer, a 1966 Butler High School graduate, spent three years in the Army before returning to his hometown.

He worked at Armco and Butler Memorial Hospital before taking a job as a patrolman.

In addition to his police work, Shearer spent 20 years in the Army Reserves.

Shearer’s retirement left an opening on the force that was filled by the board of commissioners earlier this month.

Hired was Max Wittlinger, 26, of Slippery Rock who most recently was employed in Grove City. Wittlinger will start in mid-April. Starting salary in the township for a patrolman is $37,760.

In addition to chief and lieutenant, the Butler Township Police Department has five sergeants, 14 patrol officers and two administrators.