2026 Honorees
Awards have been given for 2026. The eligibility period was from July 1, 2025 through July 1, 2026.
The nomination period for 2027 will open in September.
Honored this year were:
- Detective Mark Baker, Northern York Regional Police Department (End of Watch: September 17, 2025) – Detective Mark Baker was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant, alongside two of his colleagues. Detective Baker was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Northern York County Regional Police Department for over 21 years. He had previously served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
- Detective Sergeant Cody Becker, Northern York Regional Police Department (End of Watch: September 17, 2025) – Detective Cody Becker was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant, alongside two of his colleagues. Detective Becker had served with the Northern York County Regional Police Department for 16 years.
- Chief Jeffory Buck, Walnuttown Fire Company (End of Watch: April 4, 2026) – Fire Chief Jeffory Buck was killed in a head-on crash on Route 222 during an emergency call while searching for a missing woman. Chief Buck dedicated his life to serving others and was a member of the Walnuttown Fire Company for 43 years.
- Officer Andy C. Chan, Philadelphia Police Department (End of Watch: December 2, 2025) – Officer Andy Chan died in December 2025 due to injuries sustained from a motorcycle collision while working in January 2019. Officer Chan had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 24 years.
- Detective Isaiah Emenheiser, Northern York Regional Police Department (End of Watch: September 17, 2025) – Detective Isaiah Emenheiser was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving an arrest warrant, alongside two of his colleagues. Detective Emenheiser had served with the Northern York County Regional Police Department for 20 years.
- Corporal Timothy O’Connor, Pennsylvania State Police (End of Watch: March 8, 2026) – Corporal Timothy O'Connor was killed in the line of duty while initiating a traffic stop in Honey Brook Township, Chester County. Corporal O'Connor had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for over 15 years.
- Trooper Michael Pahira, Jr., Pennsylvania State Police (End of Watch: July 1, 2026) – Trooper First Class Michael Pahira was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle while conducting a vehicle safety inspection along I-81 in Schuylkill County. Trooper Pahira had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for nearly 20 years and was assigned to Troop L in Frackville.
- Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr., Walnuttown Fire Company (End of Watch: April 4, 2026) – Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr. was killed in a head-on crash on Route 222 during an emergency call while searching for a missing woman. Assistant Fire Chief Shick was a volunteer firefighter with the Walnuttown Fire Company since his early teens. He served as the assistant chief for multiple years, most recently since 2024.
- Officer Kristen Yeager, Central Berks Regional Police Department (End of Watch: May 29, 2026) – Officer Kristen Yeager died in line of duty in a vehicle accident while responding with lights and sirens to assist a neighboring police department with an incident. Officer Yeager served with the CBRPD for two and a half years as a patrol officer. Prior to serving the CBRPD, Officer Yeager served in several Berks County police departments, most recently Bally Borough Police Department.
Past Years' Recipients
Three fallen heroes were honored in the award's second year:
- Sergeant Jaime Roman , Philadelphia Police Department [end of watch Sept. 10, 2024]: A six-year veteran of the force, Sergeant Roman was shot while on duty in Kensington and passed away after more than 80 days in critical condition.
- Patrolman Andrew Duarte, West York Borough Police Department [end of watch Feb. 22, 2025]: Patrolman Duarte was killed during a hospital hostage incident in York County, giving his final moments to protecting his colleagues.
- Assistant Fire Chief Edward 'Chip' Chidester, Hartford Volunteer Fire Company [end of watch April 27, 2025]: A 40-year member of the Harford Volunteer Fire Company, Assistant Chief Chidester died from complications of injuries sustained while fighting a large brush fire in Susquehanna County.
Twelve fallen heroes were honored in the award's inaugural year:
- Sergeant Christopher D. Fitzgerald, Temple University Police Department
- Lieutenant William D. Lebo, City of Lebanon Police Department
- Trooper Martin F. Mack III, Pennsylvania State Police
- Chief Justin McIntire, Brackenridge Police Department
- Sergeant Richard Carrero Mendez, Philadelphia Police Department
- Trooper Jacques F. "Jay" Rougeau Jr., Pennsylvania State Police
- Trooper Brandon Sisca, Pennsylvania State Police
- Officer Sean L. Sluganski, McKeesport Police Department
- Paramedic Nicholas A. Theofilis, Penn Hills EMS
- Assistant Chief Zachary T. A. Paris, Community Fire Company of New Tripoli
- Firefighter Marvin Gruber, Community Fire Company of New Tripoli
- Corrections Officer James Britton Jr., Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Who Is Eligible?
Pennsylvania first responders who sustained career-ending injuries or lost their lives while on duty.
First responders can include:
- Emergency medical service providers, firefighters, or members of a rescue company
- Peace officers
- 911 dispatchers
- Coroners or medical examiners responding in an official capacity to an emergency
- Corrections officers
- Federal law enforcement officers
- County or local emergency management coordinators
Time spent at the scene and travel to and from the scene are included as time spent in the line of duty.
For 911 dispatchers, suffering a fatal heart attack or stroke on duty or not later than 24 hours after working or in a training/exercise also counts as time spent in the line of duty.
Who Reviews Nominations?
The nominations are reviewed by a committee established by Pennsylvania Act 11.
Members include the:
- State fire commissioner
- Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
- Director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services within the Department of Health
- Secretary of General Services
- Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police
- Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police
- President of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association
- Director of the Pennsylvania National Emergency Number Association
- Director of the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association
- President of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association
