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Full Time Police Officers

Full Time Police Officers

9223f25545563594ef4be069c87cdeb0_f403MATTHEW TRASTER
Term of Office : 2/01/2000 - Current

Assistant Chief Matthew J Traster is a graduate of Prairie Heights High School and moved to DeKalb County in 1997 starting off working at the DeKalb County Jail. 

He graduated the Jail academy and joined the Butler City Police Department Reserve program in April of 1998.

In 2000 he was hired as a full time patrol officer and since then has enjoyed working with the citizen of Butler and fellow officers.

Officer Traster was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2009 and has since been promoted to Assistant Chief.

Officer Traster has been certified in several areas of investigation and has received numerous awards including, valor, merit and Officer of the Year for 2013.  Officer Traster graduated in the top 1/2 of ILEA Course 01-196.  He strives for community oriented Policing and community oriented mindset.   Some of Officer Traster's certifications are as follows :

  • Expert Rifle,
  • Expert Handgun,
  • Taser, Bean Bag Shotgun,
  • Crisis intervention Officer,
  • Reid Interview and advanced Reid School.
  • identifying deceptive behavior,
  • SANE certified, and was part of the Sexual Assault Response Team.
Officer Traster is also the first and only Law Enforcement Officer in DeKalb County to be an investigator with the State and Federal Joint Task Force I.C.A.C (  Internet Crimes Against Children ). 

Officer Traster has been certified in several computer crimes investigation techniques and he is also certified through the Indiana Pharmacy Board for Indiana INSPECT.

Favorite quote " Victory is reserved for those willing to pay it's price ". 
IMG_3515CORY ROWE
Term of Office:  01/01/2016   - Current

Officer Cory Rowe graduated from Garrett High School in 2013 and is currently enrolled at Indiana Tech for his Criminal Justice Degree.

Cory started his career in law enforcement as a DeKalb County Jailer in 2015. Cory was hired onto Butler Police Department as a full time Police Officer in September of 2016.   He attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in March of 2017 and Graduated in June 2017 with class 211.

Cory is dedicated in helping and serving his community to the best of his abilities.
Smith_Jacob_20160613_cropped

JACOB SMITH

Term of Office: 12/10/2017-- Current
pd_bio_watts_140x180ADAM WATTS
Term of Office:  01/01/2012   - Current

Officer Adam Watts graduated from Angola High School in 2001.  He started as a Reserve Police Officer for the City of Butler in 2011. 

He was later hired as a full time patrolman in 2012.  He attended ILEA Academy class in the spring of 2013 and graduated that same year in Class # 199 and qualified expert in firearms.
Griggs_Joseph_20161017_croppedJOSEPH GRIGGS
Term of Office :  04.01.2019 --Current

Officer Joseph Griggs was born in Fort Wayne, IN and spent his childhood in St. Joe, IN.  He has lived been in Butler, IN since he was 15 and is a graduate of Eastside Jr/Sr High School.

He graduated in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008. Officer  Griggs started in 2016 as a Reserve and was Hired full time in 2019.  He will be attending the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy this summer.
pd_bio_patton_140x180PAUL PATTON
Term of Office: Sat, 01/01/2000

Active: Currently Active

  • Born 08/26/47 at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN
  • Graduated High School May 1965
  • Married Karen Wiederkehr June 7, 1969
  • Graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College May 1972

    • Major in Pastoral Ministries
    • Minor in Christian Education

  • Began church ministry assignments and involvements 1967
  • Began pastoral ministry 1985
  • Began as pastor of Butler Church of the Nazarene 08/19/1989
  • Began as Chaplain of the Butler Police Department 01/25/2008
  • Have two living daughters and one deceased daughter.
  • Have six grandchildren - three boys and three girls.
Over the years God has blessed my life and ministries more than I can express in mere words. I especially appreciate the dedication and support of my life partner, Karen.  I am deeply grateful to be a part of the Butler Police Department to serve as their Chaplain.