Bruner Aims to Serve as Magisterial District Judge while Staying Focused on his Hometown, Local Community By Joe Smeltzer With the current position of magisterial district judge up for grabs, John Bruner saw an opportunity. Bruner, 50, has spent more than a quarter-century in law enforcement, having been a county detective for the Greene County District Attorney's office, a police officer and a detective with the South Strabane Police Department and, most recently, working in education. Bruner works for the Chartiers Valley School District as the Act 44 safety and security coordinator and school police officer, the same roles he had previously at Keystone Oaks. Bruner is running in the 27-3-10 MDJ voting district, based in Buffalo. The current judge, Ethan Ward, is not seeking reelection, and Bruner hopes to be next in line. "I've had a passion to be a magistrate for years," Bruner said. "With the current judge not seeking reelection, I thought this was my opportunity- I felt that I was more than qualified for the job." plans, school therapists, counselors, behavioral assessments. I understand that completely." Bruner knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement "from an early age." After graduating from Trinity High School, he honed his skills at the University Bruner has six years working for school of Pittsburgh, where he got his undergraduate degree in administration in justice in 1993, and then spent a year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's ACT 120 police academy before starting his professional journey classroom presentations under his belt. in Greene County. districts, a NASRO award for getting more than $400,000 in grant funding for school security and more than 250 Bruner feels that having worked with school-aged children for the past six years will help him in knowing what those districts want to do in trying to assist students who must appear in front of a magistrate. Bruner has spent his whole life in Washington County and has lived in Buffalo Township since 2004. courtroom, if that keeps them from getting into trouble, then it's "Working with the community is first and foremost," Bruner said. "You try to be a problem solver by being fair and open-minded." Bruner estimates that he's stood in front of magistrates know what the goal of the school is all worth the hard work." "If a child has a police referral, I will Overall, Bruner hopes to continue more than 2,500 times. his work with schools should he in terms of trying to rehabilitate that child," Bruner said. "I can jump on that move into the role. "I'm very familiar with the magistrates' role," he said. plan to try to assist them with the plan based on that child's specific diagnosis. gets into these classrooms. So it's These are the things that I'm hoping to accomplish as a magistrate. "I want to be the magistrate that He's also confident that he can be effective in that role, and part of the reason is the six years he's spent working for school districts. providing extra services for the community at no cost." "Issues such as truancy, discipline issues. Because of my background in the schools, I understand the social services that schools give to children. Different student assistance programs, individualized education "If I can keep a dozen kids from getting in trouble by getting a spot with the education piece, then if that keeps them from coming into my Sponsored content brought to you by John Bruner Bruner Aims to Serve as Magisterial District Judge while Staying Focused on his Hometown, Local Community By Joe Smeltzer With the current position of magisterial district judge up for grabs, John Bruner saw an opportunity. Bruner, 50, has spent more than a quarter-century in law enforcement, having been a county detective for the Greene County District Attorney's office, a police officer and a detective with the South Strabane Police Department and, most recently, working in education. Bruner works for the Chartiers Valley School District as the Act 44 safety and security coordinator and school police officer, the same roles he had previously at Keystone Oaks. Bruner is running in the 27-3-10 MDJ voting district, based in Buffalo. The current judge, Ethan Ward, is not seeking reelection, and Bruner hopes to be next in line. "I've had a passion to be a magistrate for years," Bruner said. "With the current judge not seeking reelection, I thought this was my opportunity- I felt that I was more than qualified for the job." plans, school therapists, counselors, behavioral assessments. I understand that completely." Bruner knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement "from an early age." After graduating from Trinity High School, he honed his skills at the University Bruner has six years working for school of Pittsburgh, where he got his undergraduate degree in administration in justice in 1993, and then spent a year at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's ACT 120 police academy before starting his professional journey classroom presentations under his belt. in Greene County. districts, a NASRO award for getting more than $400,000 in grant funding for school security and more than 250 Bruner feels that having worked with school-aged children for the past six years will help him in knowing what those districts want to do in trying to assist students who must appear in front of a magistrate. Bruner has spent his whole life in Washington County and has lived in Buffalo Township since 2004. courtroom, if that keeps them from getting into trouble, then it's "Working with the community is first and foremost," Bruner said. "You try to be a problem solver by being fair and open-minded." Bruner estimates that he's stood in front of magistrates know what the goal of the school is all worth the hard work." "If a child has a police referral, I will Overall, Bruner hopes to continue more than 2,500 times. his work with schools should he in terms of trying to rehabilitate that child," Bruner said. "I can jump on that move into the role. "I'm very familiar with the magistrates' role," he said. plan to try to assist them with the plan based on that child's specific diagnosis. gets into these classrooms. So it's These are the things that I'm hoping to accomplish as a magistrate. "I want to be the magistrate that He's also confident that he can be effective in that role, and part of the reason is the six years he's spent working for school districts. providing extra services for the community at no cost." "Issues such as truancy, discipline issues. Because of my background in the schools, I understand the social services that schools give to children. Different student assistance programs, individualized education "If I can keep a dozen kids from getting in trouble by getting a spot with the education piece, then if that keeps them from coming into my Sponsored content brought to you by John Bruner