KEYSTONE CENTRAL
SCHOOL NEWS
570-893-4900 • kcsd . k12 . pa . us
KCSD Recognizes School Police & Security Officers
In honor of National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day last month ( February 15th ), KCSD recognized our hardworking School Police and Security Officers , Scott VanGorder , Dutchess , Michael Fetzer , Todd Brian , Cory Beaver , and James Knarr . Our School Resource Officers ( SROs ) serve as important bridges between youth , law enforcement , and the communities they serve . Trained in school-based policing and crisis response , they are typically our school ' s first line of defense . SRO ’ s have a huge impact on our communities ensuring physical safety , building relationships with students , and educating the school community on safety topics and needs . They are also educators , and of course , law enforcement officers . They lead school school safety discussions and help build safety protocols to make sure the school community is thoroughly trained .
Officer Scott VanGorder served as a U . S . Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist / Dual Purpose K-9 handler from 1984-88 . From 1988-2016 , he worked as a Corrections Officer / K9 Handler / Trainer with the PA Dept . of Corrections . He retired as a Captain after 28 years . Upon retirement , he has worked at KCSD as an armed School Security / Attendance / K9 officer and continues to train and certify teams nationally .
You will often see Officer VanGorder at CMHS with Officer Dutchess , KCSD ’ s first drug detection dog . The pup , a Chocolate Lab , was donated to KCSD in 2017 . She was trained by Officer VanGorder and can detect the presence of illicit drugs . The duo also conduct K9 demonstrations for K-12 , as well as other civic organizations .
Clinton County native , Officer Michael Fetzer , has worked at KCSD over 13 years as the district-wide elementary SRO and Environmental Health & Safety Supervisor , as well as the district ’ s Attendance Officer . Mike has been a certified EMT for 32 years and a volunteer firefighter / hazmat for 39 years .
Officer Todd Brian began his law enforcement career in 1986 as the Deputy Sheriff / County Drug Task Force at the Warren County Sheriff ’ s Dept . In 1988 , he joined the PA State Police , where he was a Patrol Trooper for 11 years and a Corporal / Shift Supervisor for 14 years . He was hired by KCSD in 2015 .
Officer Cory Beaver earned his degree in Criminology in 1986 from the Indiana University of PA . From 1988 to 1995 , he was employed by the Jersey Shore Borough Police Dept . He enlisted in the PA State Police in 1995 and retired with 25 years of service in 2020 . He ' s currently our SRO at Bucktail MS / HS and Renovo Elementary .
Officer James Knarr , a Lock Haven native , spent 6 years in the U . S . Navy Submarine Service . After the military , he enrolled in the Municipal Police Academy . In 1995 he was hired by the York City Police Department , where he spent 25 years as a police officer . He was also York City ' s only Car and Body Camera technician for 6 years . He retired in 2019 and moved back to Clinton County . In 2022 , he joined KCSD as a School Police Officer at CMMS .
These officers are valuable and essential members of our education community who deserve respect and support from the public . From keeping unsafe individuals off our school sites to putting their lives at risk to stop an active shooter , SRO ’ s play a critical role in keeping everyone in our schools safe .
Please patronize this fine local sponsor of Keystone Central School News :
Service Garage , LLC 565 HURON AVENUE , RENOVO 570-923-2437 / 570-748-5700
-- HEATING OIL AND KEROSENE --
FOR ALL YOUR HOME HEATING NEEDS
www . bearcountrygoodnews . com -- “ Good News ” -- March -- 5