HADLEY — A year after joining the Hadley Police Department in 2014, Staff Sgt. Michael Romano became the town’s first school resource officer, taking on a role aimed at keeping students, teachers and staff safe at the four campuses in town.

Over the past eight years, at Hopkins Academy, Hadley Elementary School, The Hartsbrook School and Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Romano has become an important presence, handling preventive education and doing counseling, mentoring and coaching and, when necessary, being part of a crisis response team.

“It’s been one of the most rewarding specialties I have ever worked,” Romano says. “You can positively change their lives and get someone on the right track in short order.”

The continued success of the program, with two officers regularly at the schools, is a credit to Romano, said Police Chief Michael Mason.

“He built the foundation for Hadley’s SRO program, which now has multiple officers certified, and each of our schools welcomes us because of the relationships Mike forged with administrators, staff, and, most especially, the students,” Mason said.

For his work, Romano earned the Richard G. Werenski Officer of the Year award at the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association’s annual luncheon earlier in December.

Named in honor of Werenski, a member of the Holyoke police for 43 years, the award is presented annually to an officer serving in the four western counties of Massachusetts who has demonstrated the highest standards of professional conduct, along with diligence to duty, loyalty, honesty and integrity as a police officer.

Romano’s recognition follows the award, now in its 26th year, being given to two other Hampshire County officers the past two years, with Amherst Police Officer William Laramee earning recognition in 2021, and Easthampton Police Sgt. Chad Alexander in 2022.

“It means so much for our organization to have the Western Mass Chiefs Association select him for this award,” said Mason, who has been the president of the association. “Each year our organization gives out several awards and scholarships, but I personally feel that this award is the most prestigious.”

Romano’s plaque states that “many years of dedication, sacrifice and service make him a very deserving recipient.”

For Romano, the award also comes as he recently returned to the department on light duty after he was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2022 and then spent more than a year in and out of medical treatment, as he puts it.

After experiencing pain and discomfort in his bones and joints, a blood test revealed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Type B. He turned to Dana Farber for medical care, including chemotherapy and radiation and, on May 4, finding a match, received a bone marrow transplant. Romano is in full remission, considered well on the way to being cured, and has returned to the gym and is mostly feeling normal, with a hope to return to full police duty by the spring.

Mason submitted Romano’s name due to his accomplishments, both to recognize what he has done for the department and the town, and for his successful return from illness.

“We are so grateful to have him back and we realized what we were missing while he was out,” Mason said.

During his time away, a special uniform patch was created, reading “Fight for Mike,” with his badge number and boxing gloves at the center of the shield, and community fundraisers were held at the North Hadley Sugar Shack and Arizona Pizza, bringing people out for pancakes and drinks, with celebrity bartenders including police officers and firefighters.

“The outpouring from the community was very moving and humbling, More support than I could have ever expected,” Romano said.

Romano also had his family by his side, including his wife, Kelley.

In law enforcement since 2004, Romano said he has found roots in town, and respects and appreciates the department’s approach.

Promoted to sergeant in 2018, he has also taken control of the department’s administrative programs. That includes handling the cruiser fleet maintenance program and facilitating one of the first fully operational body camera programs in the area.

Most recently, Romano helped the department launch its marine patrol to contribute to the Connecticut River Task Force, a unit designed to keep people safe while recreating on the river. Mason said his title as staff sergeant demonstrates that he is Hadley’s most senior sergeant, and one of the most highly respected and trusted officers in town.

Before the recent luncheon, Mason let Kelley Romano know about the award, recognizing that she has been by her husband’s side throughout his diagnosis and treatment, to find a way to keep the award secret until it was revealed.

“In my role as president of the Western Mass Chiefs, I was honored to not only be able announce his name, but also see the pure surprise in his eyes when he won,” Mason said.

Romano said it was shocking to hear his name called.

“Things like that are neat and special and humbling, and very much appreciated,” Romano said. ” I put a lot of myself into this agency, and I care a lot about my team, my coworkers and this town.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.