The last time a Butler County law enforcement officer died in the line of duty was in December 1980, but should it happen again, a local group is working to ensure funds are available for the victim's family.

The Butler County Law Enforcement Officer’s Association is seeking to raise $30,000 for a fund that would benefit the families of local officers who die on the job.

Though the effort began in 2022, only two-thirds of the desired amount has been raised as of March 4r.

“When a police officer dies, the family is often left in a bad situation,” said Frank Cichra, a retired state trooper and president of the association. “This fills in that little gap between the tragedy and the insurance.”

He said the fund was created after members were made aware of similar resources in other counties.

Saxonburg’s former police chief Gregory B. Adams is the most recent officer to die while serving his community. On Dec. 4. 1980, Adams was shot during a traffic stop and died from his injuries.

Cichra said while the Butler community is lucky that the most recent officer death was more than 40 years ago, current events have raised awareness about the dangers officers face every day at work.

“Let’s pray we don’t have to use this fund,” he said.

The fund can be used for any law enforcement officer’s family for funeral arrangements and other expenses. Officers that qualify include police, corrections, probation, constables and sheriff’s deputies.

The association's goal is to constantly add to the fund, Cichra said. He added that in the unfortunate circumstance that multiple officers were killed in one instance, the fund would be split between the affected families.

“Those funds would be available pretty much the next day,” he said.

Most of the fund has been supplemented by businesses and local leaders becoming part of the “100 Club” through a one-time donation of $100.

Jon Anderson, an associate liaison for the association, has been meeting business owners and local leaders about donating to the 100 Club in person, as Cichra said they do not want to be mistaken for a scam.

“You just never know in this day and age, there’s so many scams out there,” he said.

So far, Anderson said he has approached some government officials, state representatives, local restaurants, American Legions, Rotary Clubs and other groups.

Cichra said the feedback they have received about the fund and the association itself has been positive.

“There’s a lot of law enforcement support in this county,” he said.

The association has been around since 1962 and also helps support outreach programs such as the Drug Reality Tour, the state police’s Camp Cadet, and the Can-Am police and fire games coming to Butler in June. It is comprised of 261 members of law enforcement officials and community members.

“It was formed to bring the police departments in Butler together to coordinate with each other and let each other know what’s going on,” Cichra said. “It gives them a place to sit down and talk.”

Anyone interested in donating to the 100 Club or becoming a member of the association is asked to call 724-968-6659.