Did Politics Play a Role in Replacing Central Bucks School Resource Officer?

Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Landis has been the school resource officer (SRO) at Central Bucks West High School since 2023.
However, county Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, the Democrats who control the county board, decided not renew his contract. And Harvie recently announced he is running for Congress against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks).
Central Bucks Superintendent Steve Yanni said a replacement SRO from Central Bucks Regional Police Department is on the April school board agenda for approval. The school district pays for the resource officers, not the county. Both the Central Bucks School Board and the Doylestown Borough are controlled by Democrats.
“It had come to my attention that Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia announced their intention to terminate the SRO agreement with the Central Bucks School District,” said Sheriff Fred Harran, a Republican. “I was not consulted by either Commissioner Harvie or Commissioner Marseglia before their plan to cancel the SRO program.
“I do not agree with their decision. I do not support their decision. They unilaterally made this decision without input from me or my deputy,” said Harran.
Inna Pyatesky, a parent of a CB West student, said, “It’s unnerving that everything seems to be made so political. No matter what the issue is at our school, it always feels like it’s of a political nature. All I can say is that there are no Democratic kids and no Republican kids, just kids. School is starting to look more and more like a tug-of-war between politicians pushing and pulling agendas. Our children and their safety are being played as pawns on the political game board.”
However, James O’Malley, a spokesperson for the county, offered a different explanation.
“The future of the School Resource Officer (SRO) position at Central Bucks West High School (CB West) in the Central Bucks School District (CBSD) has essentially been settled since December 2024 when the Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) made a request to the Central Bucks School Board to take over the position.
“The County of Bucks was pleased to provide a temporary solution to fill the need for an SRO for CB West by providing a sheriff’s deputy on a two-year contract spanning the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. Unlike a police officer who has full law enforcement powers, a sheriff’s deputy has limited jurisdiction. CBRPD intends to fill the SRO position with a sworn Act 120 police officer, which is the standard for this type of position. It is our understanding that the current SRO from the Sheriff’s Office was offered that position with CBRPD but declined.”
“The County of Bucks and the Bucks County Commissioners have no further direct involvement in this process,” O’Malley said.
In response to losing Landis, students launched an online petition to keep Landis.
That prompted CBSD Superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni to send an email stating Landis was offered a last chance to switch employers to keep the position, then effectively brushed aside the voices of students and parents while stating someone else would be hired. What Yanni omitted from his email was that such a change would cost Landis his pension, and push off his retirement with the new employer until well into his 70s, said Andrew Miller, a candidate for the school board in Region 2.
“SROs are important and vital resources in our high schools, and it is essential that we listen to students and parents to keep outstanding SROs in place,” said Miller, “As someone with over 15 years of experience in law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand the unique impact a trusted, consistent SRO can have in building safe, supportive school environments. It’s not just about presence—it’s about relationships, trust, and continuity. Deputy Landis has clearly earned the respect and trust of students, and that matters.”
Miller continued, “The failure to listen to students and parents, while omitting key information about the so-called ‘solution’ offered, is a perfect example of why we need change on our school board. We need leaders who will respect and listen to students and parents—and who understand the deeper implications of decisions like these. I applaud the students who started this petition. I hear you and I stand with you.”
Harran said, “I know the important roles that a School Resource Officer can fulfill, and the impact that an SRO can have – not only on the students, teachers, and administrators within a school, but on the entirety of the community that the school serves. I advocated for and implemented School Resource Officers, D.A.R.E. Programs, a P.A.L. Program, and other school and community outreach and involvement initiatives in my more than 30 years as a police officer, and as the Director of Public Safety for the county’s largest municipality, Bensalem Township.
“My deputies and I were excited at the prospect of beginning a School Resource Officer Program through the Sheriff’s Office, and in 2023 I pursued the SRO request from the Central Bucks School District with various officials in county government. My efforts culminated with an agreement among the school district, the county, and the Sheriff’s Office for the placement of a Deputy Sheriff as a School Resource Officer for CB West H.S. starting with the 2023-24 school year.
“Sheriff’s Deputy Landis was assigned as the SRO at CB West and has served continuously in that role since his appointment. Based upon all of the interactions I have had and feedback I have received since Deputy Landis’ assignment to the high school, I believe that the SRO Program at CB West has been a success,” added Harran.