At the 2025 TAASRO Conference held June 2-6 at the Orange Beach Convention Center, Officer Richard Knecht was recognized for his outstanding dedication to school safety with the ‘Safe Schools Leadership Award.’ Officer Knecht has worked as an SRO in Mountain Brook for eight years.

The conference, attended by 1,200 School Resource Officers and School Administrators from Alabama and neighboring states, celebrated excellence in school safety. Nominated by Mountain Brook Municipal Judge K.C. Hairston and former high school AP Chemistry Teacher Bryan Rosenstiel, Officer Knecht’s leadership and commitment stood out among his peers.

In addition to this honor, Richard and Officer Lance Ziska were recognized as TAASRO School Safety Specialists—an elite designation held by only 15 officers statewide. This achievement reflects rigorous training, including NASRO Basic and Advanced Classes, multiple state conferences, ALSDE courses, and substantial in-service hours focused on school safety.

Congratulations to Officer Knecht for receiving this esteemed award!