For Butler Detective, Working Among Men is Routine

• Name: Det. Colleen Pascale, 40, has grown used to being a woman surrounded by men at work. At 19 she was the first female firefighter in Butler. “It was 99 men and myself,” Pascale said. “Then, in 1992, along with being on the fire department, I joined the and I’ve been the only female here. So, for me, it’s just a matter of routine.” Today Pascale is the only woman, and the only detective, on the Butler Police force.
• Honor Legion: Pascale is also the only female police officer currently of the Honor Legion of the Police Departments of the State of New Jersey. “Since the time of the board there have only been two female officers ever on the board,” said Pascale. The Honor Legion is made up of a select group of individuals who have been nominated by fellow officers to become members. “It’s an organization considered the finest of the finest of law enforcement,” Pascale added. In her capacity as a board member, she assists in fundraising efforts for families of fallen police officers, college scholarships and disability assistance for families.
• Family:  The married mother of two 13-year-old girls and two boys, ages 9 and 11, grew up in Butler and lived in town until her marriage four years ago. She and her family now live in Randolph.
• Education: Following high school, Pascale attended the County College of Morris before transferring to William Paterson University. When she was only a few credits shy of her bachelor's degree, she attended the police academy. “I wasn’t prepared,” she said of her reaction to the strictness and quasi-military nature of the 14-week program. She admited that during the experience, she wasn’t certain she would be able to complete the training. But with her determination to pursue a career in law enforcement, she found the strength to make it through.
• Favorite Thing About Butler: “It’s a nice small community,” said Pascale. “I think it’s a wholesome community. I think that the people look out for each other. Everybody helps each other, and it’s a warm community.”
• Something You Would Change: “I’d like more things for the kids to do,” explained Pascale. “I think that’s always been our No. 1 problem. It’s lacking for what kids can do on their time off outside of organized sports.” The police officer feels that kids need more activities and “would love to see a skate park for the kids." "The kids really have nothing to do," she said. "And in the summer months, they’re lacking for things to do.”
• The Butler Police Department: “I think people should know this is really a great agency,” said Pascale. “This present administration supports the needs of the community. This administration makes me want to come to work.”
• Responsibilities: The detective became a police officer because she liked the idea of helping people. As a detective, Pascale investigates a wide range of incidents such as homicides, burglaries, thefts and domestic violence disputes. In addition to her duties as detective, Pascale currently serves as one of the community’s two D.A.R.E. officers and she is the Juvenile Officer of the department. Part of her role in the community is to sit down with families and help them to help their children get the assistance they need to stay out of jail. She credits the current administration, and Police Chief Edward Card, for innovatively leading the Butler Police Force. “I’ve gotten letters, ‘Thanks for educating me.Thanks for putting me on the straight and narrow. I’ve now graduated from college and I’m now doing this with my life.’ And, again, that’s better than any reward I can get from any other agency.” Pascale encourages families to reach out to her if they have a child who they think is at risk. She said she would like to help before a problem becomes a crisis.
• Current Activities: Outside of work, Pascale coaches many sports, particularly softball and basketball. When she lived in Butler, she was a commissioner of Tri-boro Little League, she said.
• Other Activities: Pascale’s roots in the Butler community run deep. Her job requires that she work closely with the schools in order to coordinate initiatives for the D.A.R.E. program and the Juvenile Bureau. She also has a history in town. In addition to serving as a little league commissioner, she was a Recreation Department commissioner, served on the and was an active member of the Republican Club. She also continued volunteering on the fire department until the middle of the night calls on her days off from work got to be too much to juggle with a full-time job, she said.
• Most Rewarding: “The gift of being able to help somebody. I think, at the end of the day when you say, ‘I changed that person’s life in a positive way,’ you know, there’s no better reward. There’s no medal that can give you what that says, and the feeling that you get from that,” she said.
• Most Difficult: “The absence of your family. There’s times where you do not get to go to your kids’ birthday parties, or your kids’ sporting events…now I have the privilege of working more steady hours,” explained Pascale. “But, when I did work rotations, I missed a lot of their birthdays. I missed a lot of holidays with them. I missed waking up in the morning with them, and that, to me, as a mother, was probably the most difficult part.”
• Hobbies: “Sports. I like playing sports,” Pascale said. Though she no longer belongs to a team herself, she coaches softball and basketball for her kids.
• Philosophy: “Live it to the fullest because it’s short.”

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