Catasauqua Area School District welcomed a new addition to the district family — Officer Michael Renner — as the new school resource officer. He is based out of Catasauqua High School.

Renner said he first became interested in law enforcement in his youth. He enjoyed detective stories and mysteries. He noted he admired his uncle, who was a Pennsylvania State Police trooper.

Renner graduated from Penn State University with a degree in the administration of justice. He began his career in law enforcement after graduating from Allentown Police Academy in 2015. He noted that since he lived in the area his entire life, he wanted to find a local department. The Northampton and North Catasauqua police departments offered him part-time work opportunities.

He has been working in law enforcement for 36 years. Earlier in his career, he worked with Northampton Area School District Police Department full time.

“Under the tutelage of Chief Wilfred Williams, I learned a lot about school policing, especially the difference from SRO and regular police patrol work,” Renner said.

His next career step brought him to working full time with North Catasauqua Police Department. He noted this move to SRO felt like a “full circle” moment for his career.

“I believe that everything I had done in my career up until this point landed me this SRO opportunity — a blend of social skills, understanding the workings of a school district, operations management, social work, services brokerage, higher education and, of course, the police academy training,” Renner said.

Renner said he will be serving as a liaison between the staff, administration, Catasauqua and North Catasauqua police departments and PSP to serve as effectively as possible.

“I will strategize to continuously improve campus safety, enforce all laws and enhance communication between the board, administration, staff, parents and students,” Renner said. “I will continue to provide a strong commitment to safety and work with the district to provide resources and program opportunities to our students.”

North Catasauqua Police Chief Chris Wolfer said he previously had concerns about Catasauqua High School, due to its potentially problematic location.

“Located at a unique crossroads of multiple municipal jurisdictions, the school sits within a mile of at least five different local police departments, yet historically fell under the coverage of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Wolfer said. “Adding to this complexity, 911 calls made from the property could be routed to different dispatch centers, depending on the caller’s precise location and cellular network routing. This was a critical safety concern, as emergency response in a crisis relies on immediate and accurate communication.”

He said addressing this concern was their first priority.

“I’m proud to say we resolved it efficiently,” Wolfer added.

Additionally, he said he “recognized the need for a joint, multiagency response plan supported by comprehensive training and regular simulation exercises.”

The North Catasauqua and Catasauqua police departments have held a number of trainings in the school district, with other agencies as well, to ensure all parties would be prepared to handle an emergency situation in the schools.

“The unpredictability of modern security threats made it imperative to ensure that, if the worst were to happen, we wouldn’t be reacting — we would be executing a well-rehearsed plan,” Wolfer said.

Wolfer believes the department has made great strides, including streamlining communication to ensure immediate and coordinated responses, training every North Catasauqua officer to be comfortable and familiar with the school’s layout and the surrounding area, conducting regular preparedness meetings to solidify the emergency procedures and performing regular security assessments to ensure they are utilizing the best safety measures.

Historically, the SROs in the district have been provided by Catasauqua Police Department. Due to shifts in the department, there was an opening to work in the schools.

“When the opportunity arose to establish an SRO at the high school, I immediately pursued it, knowing it was a crucial step toward reinforcing security, enhancing coordination between agencies and fostering a proactive relationship with our community’s most valuable asset — our children,” Wolfer reported.

Renner was chosen to serve as the newest SRO. Wolfer said he has worked with Renner for nearly a decade, adding he was the clear choice for the role.

“Being an SRO requires a rare combination of skills, experience and personal character — traits that go well beyond traditional law enforcement training,” Wolfer said. “An SRO must have unquestionable integrity, honesty and an unwavering work ethic. They need to command respect, not just through authority, but through fairness, professionalism and accountability. The role demands someone who can maintain a strong, authoritative presence while also earning the trust and confidence of students, many of whom have never interacted with law enforcement before.”

According to Wolfer, Renner was set apart by his ability to embody all of these traits effortlessly. Renner was described as “not only an exceptional officer, but also an exceptional human being.” Wolfer described Renner’s ability to connect with others, while still maintaining and commanding respect as rare.

“He understands that students won’t trust a badge — they’ll trust the person behind it,” Wolfer said of Renner. “He has made it a priority to engage with them in a way that is genuine, approachable and respectful, showing them that he is not just there to enforce rules but to support, guide and protect them.”

Wolfer lauded Renner’s professionalism and dedication. His commitment extends to “fully immersing himself in the school community and working closely with administrators, staff and students,” according to Wolfer.

“One of the most valuable aspects of his presence is fostering relationships of trust with students, particularly those who may have never interacted with our officers before,” Wolfer said. “Renner’s presence isn’t just about security — it’s about breaking down barriers, building relationships and reinforcing the idea that law enforcement is here to protect and serve, not just to police.

The intergovernmental agreement between CASD and North Catasauqua for a school resource officer and the memorandum of understanding with North Catasauqua were approved during the CASD Board of Education meeting Oct. 8, 2024.

Wolfer credited CASD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling and Shelley Keffer, coordinator of student services, for working “tirelessly to lay the foundation for this program.” He noted they were essential in bringing the SRO initiative to light.

Additionally, Wolfer shared appreciation for the efforts of North Catasauqua Fire Chief Roger Scheirer and Mayor William Molchany for their support, the guidance of Capt. Gregory J. Emery of the PSP and the work done by Tasha Jandrisovits, Annette Englert and Tricia Tillman at the borough office.

Renner also thanked everyone, especially Wolfer and Keffer, for their help and support of his working in the district.

“It’s not a one-man operation,” Renner said. “It took many entities to bring this to fruition.”

Renner noted he works closely with David Todd, CHS principal, and Chris Gerhard, assistant principal, to ensure the highest levels of safety and support for the students.

Todd reported Renner “has been a welcomed addition to the building” and has been working to get to know the students and staff.

“Students see him regularly in the halls, during lunch and at both entry and dismissal,” Todd said. “Parents have commented that they appreciate his presence in the mornings to assist with student entry and traffic.”

According to Todd, Renner is an effective communicator and a “reliable resource” for the entire high school community.

“Plus, he is just a good person,” Todd said.

Renner noted he likes to try and “stay balanced by spending as much time as possible with my family and friends.” He thanked his wife, Evelyn, and son, Evan, for their support. Additionally, he said he enjoys riding motorcycles, exercising, church activities and music.

“This initiative is already having a significant and positive impact, and I have no doubt that under Officer Renner’s leadership at the school, it will continue to grow and evolve,” Wolfer said.

Wolfer noted he, Renner and Officer Leighton Pursell will be attending Advanced Active Threat Response Instructor School this year through the National Tactical Officers Association. They will bring back what they’ve learned to implement regular, dynamic threat response simulations to maintain the highest level of preparedness.

“Along with the staff, we will make Catasauqua High school a safe and friendly environment for our students to learn,” Renner said.