Dr. Merenda is a retired police Captain from the New York City Police Department (NYPD), where he completed 20 years of dedicated service. He most recently worked in the NYPD's Office of Management Analysis and Planning, where his responsibilities included policy analysis, research, and program development. He also worked in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information as a department spokesperson. He received his doctorate from St. John's University and his master of public administration from Harvard University, where he was awarded the 2012 Harvard University Presidential Fellowship for Public Service.