Three first responders with Berks County ties were among nine fallen heroes honored by Gov. Josh Shapiro with the 2026 Keystone First Responder Award.
Officer Kristen Yeager of the Central Berks Regional Police Department, Walnuttown Fire Company Chief Jeffory Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr. were recognized during a ceremony at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. The awards were presented to the surviving families of first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Yeager died May 29 in a vehicle crash while responding with lights and sirens to assist a neighboring police department with an incident. She had served as a patrol officer with Central Berks Regional Police Department for two and a half years.
Prior to joining Central Berks, Yeager served with several other police departments in Berks County, most recently the Bally Borough Police Department.
Buck and Shick April 4 in a head-on crash on Route 222 while responding to an emergency call to search for a missing woman.
Buck had served with the Walnuttown Fire Company for 43 years. Shick had been a volunteer firefighter with the department since his early teens and served as assistant chief for multiple years, most recently beginning in 2024.
“Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Chief Robert R. Shick, Jr. devoted their lives to the fire service. Together, they served the Walnuttown Volunteer Fire Company for decades, exemplifying their strong commitment to protecting their community,” Deputy State Fire Commissioner JC Tedorski said.
“Their tragic loss reminds us of the courage required each time a first responder answers the call. Their legacy of service and sacrifice will continue to inspire the Commonwealth for generations to come.”
Also recognized was Pennsylvania State Police Trooper First Class Michael Pahira Jr., who was assigned to Troop L in Frackville. Pahira was struck and killed by a commercial vehicle July 1 while conducting a vehicle safety inspection along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. He had served with state police for nearly 20 years.
The other recipients were Northern York Regional Police Department Detectives Mark Baker and Isaiah Emenheiser and Detective Sgt. Cody Becker, Philadelphia Police Officer Andy C. Chan and Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Timothy O’Connor.
“Two years ago, we established the first Commonwealth-wide awards ceremony to honor and remember those first responders and law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our communities,” Shapiro said. “We owe these heroes and their families a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid.”
The Keystone First Responder Award recognizes Pennsylvania first responders who suffer fatal or career-ending injuries while serving their communities. The program was established through Act 11 of 2024, which Shapiro signed into law in May 2024.
The inaugural ceremony was held in October 2024 and honored 12 Pennsylvanians. Recipients are selected by the governor following recommendations from a committee representing state agencies and public safety organizations.