2024 Can-Am Games - Butler County, PA

Presented by: Heroes First Home Loans

The Can-Am Police-Fire Games will be held in Butler County, July 15-21 in 2024 at a variety of venues throughout the area. Can-Am Police-Fire Games is a multi-sport, Olympic-style event that features traditional sports and competitions that include skills used in first responders’ day-to-day work. The Games will have competitors from Fire and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Service Providers, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Corrections Officers and other first responders along with their spouses and children over 18. The Can-Am Games are expected to see more than 1,000 participants from the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Canada.

2024/07/15 00:00:00

2024 Can-Am Police & Fire Games Board of Directors

Sheriff Michael T. Slupe

Sheriff, Butler County
2024 Can-Am Chairman/CEO

Michael Slupe is currently serving his 4th term as Sheriff and was first elected in 2009.

From 1985-1991, Sheriff Slupe worked as a dispatcher at the Butler County 911 Center. He was also a volunteer fireman for Meridian Volunteer Fire Department, starting as a junior firefighter at the age of 16. Slupe was a First Responder and then Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Fire department and also worked at Butler Ambulance Service. He served as District Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America/Moraine Trails Council. He received the Good Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America/Moraine Trails Council. In 1986, Sheriff Slupe started his law enforcement career in Evans City Borough. He was a Butler Township Police Officer from August 1988 through his retirement in December of 2008.

Sheriff Slupe has served as President of the PA Sheriff’s Association from 2016-2017, along with many leadership roles in different affiliated organizations.

Public service minded, he is honored to be the Chair/CEO for the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games.

Anthony Sawl

Deputy Sheriff, Butler County
2024 Can-Am Sponsorship Chairman

Anthony has served in different branches of protective services for over 35 years. The first 16 years of his career were spent in the military in the U.S. Air Force/Pennsylvania Air National Guard. In his time in the military, Anthony received seven different awards including the Pennsylvania Commendation Medal and the Pennsylvania Outstanding Airman of the Year. Since then, his career has taken him around western Pennsylvania, serving and protecting its citizens.

He has been a certified EMT for the past 30 years, and is also an AHA, CPR and Sim-man 3G instructor. His excellent work ethic, diverse skill-set and desire to serve the community have brought him to positions ranging from Federal Officer to Police Chief.

Currently, Anthony holds the position of Deputy Sheriff at the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.

Steve Bicehouse

Director, Butler County Emergency Services
2024 Can-Am Communications Chairman

Steve has held the position of Director of Emergency Services for the County of Butler for over 7 years. After a career in healthcare, where he held the position of Risk Manager as well as RN, he transitioned to a new career in Emergency Services, a dream job.

Steve has been involved in Emergency Services for over 30 years, holding various positions, the last 12 years as chief officer in the Fire Department. He has also worked both as a volunteer and professional EMT/Prehospital RN.

Board Bob O'neill

Dr. Bob O’Neill

Chief, Butler City Police Department
2024 Can-Am Sports Director

Chief O’Neill was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA.  His great grandfather, father, and both brothers were Pittsburgh Police Officers.  Chief O’Neill started the police academy in 1996 and then began working for the City of Pittsburgh Housing Authority Police.  He then worked as a detective corporal in Cranberry Township for 17 years before eventually becoming the Chief of Police In Butler City in 2018.  He is a graduate of Duquesne University and has a master’s degree from Geneva College.  He spent 21 years as a football coach with the last eleven at the nationally ranked 6A powerhouse Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

Chief O’Neill is a member of numerous organizations and has served as a board member on a variety of clubs and sports organizations.   Chief O’Neill is community and service oriented and is honored to serve as the sports director for the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games.

Chuck Lewis

President, Saxonburg VFC
2024 Can-Am Marketing Chairman

Mr. Lewis is an active volunteer Firefighter I and Paramedic with Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company since 1991 where he currently serves as President of the organization. Mr. Lewis also serves as President of AKPULSER (area paramedic response unit) and Board member with Butler County’s Communication Council.

During his tenure with the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company, Chuck has served as Ambulance Commander for 15 years and managed a staff of 20 paid EMS personnel and more than 75 volunteers. Chuck also serves as a Deputy Coroner for Butler County. He also has served as a Hazard Mitigation/Emergency Planner for Butler County for six years and assisted Butler County in developing its All Hazards Plan.

Mr. Lewis has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Alma College (Alma, Michigan) and has more than 25 years of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) expertise and worked as an instructional designer and systems training specialist.

Bruce W. Hezlep

Cranberry Township Supervisor
2024 Can-Am Finance Chairman

Mr. Hezlep has served as Township Supervisor of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania since January 2013. In 2015 Business Week named Cranberry Twp. the #1 place to raise children in PA, and #39 best place to raise children in the US.

Mr. Hezlep has also served as a firefighter with the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company since 2002, and has held the positions of President, Captain, Lieutenant, and Safety Officer, as well as Treasurer of the Cranberry Township Firefighter’s Relief Association. He holds pro-board certifications for Fire Officer II, Firefighter II, Fire Instructor II, Hazardous Materials, and Safety Officer.

He has also served as a PA State Fire Academy Local Level Instructor.

Since joining the fire company, Mr. Hezlep has been recognized as Rookie of the Year, awarded the President’s award, the Chief’s award twice, selected as Brigade Member of the Year, and selected as Company Member of the Year by the members of the Fire Company three times.

A graduate of Grove City College, Mr. Hezlep has worked for multiple technology firms including JD Edwards, Oracle, Yardi, and RealPage. He currently works as a Senior Solution Consultant for Sage Intacct headquartered in San Jose, CA.

Joe DeMore

C.J.M, C.C.E, Warden, Butler County Prison
2024 Can-Am Operations Chairman

Joe DeMore has over 19 years of experience in the field of corrections. Homegrown in the field, Mr. DeMore started as a part-time corrections officer at Allegheny County Jail and was promoted through the ranks to Chief Deputy Warden of Operations at the 3,000-bed facility. In April of 2015. Mr. DeMore accepted his current position of Warden at the Butler County Prison, a 572-bed facility.

In 2000, Mr. DeMore earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Political Science from Slippery Rock University. He earned the prestigious Certified Jail Manager certification (CJM) through the American Jail Association and the Certified Corrections Executive (CCE) through the American Correctional Association. Mr. DeMore currently serves on the Pennsylvania Prison Warden’s Association as the 2nd Vice President.