Mutual Aid Request
REQUEST FOR MUTUAL AID — Traffic Control Personnel Needed
Line-of-Duty Funeral Procession for PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 — Schuylkill County, PA
Trooper Michael E. Pahira, a 20-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police assigned to the Frackville barracks, was killed in the line of duty on July 1, 2026, while conducting a roadside commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 81 South in Cass Township. Trooper Pahira is the 106th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty.
Pennsylvania State Police have requested full road closure support for two separate funeral processions on Wednesday, July 8th — roughly 5 hours apart. You can help with one, the other, or both.
PROCESSION 1 — Frackville to North Schuylkill Jr/Sr High School
Meet: Frackville PD, 42 S Center St, Frackville
0600 — Meet for briefing
0700 — Road closure begins
0715 — Procession departs Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home
0730 — Arrives North Schuylkill Jr/Sr High School
Minimum needed: 28 personnel (14 posts, 2 per post)
PROCESSION 2 — High School to Cemetery, Ashland
Meet: 317 S Hoffman Blvd, Ashland
1200 — Meet for briefing
1300 — Road closure begins
1315 — Procession departs high school for cemetery
1330 — Approximate arrival, cemetery
Minimum needed: 88 personnel (44 posts, 2 per post)
How to Help:
Email and/or TEXT Schuylkill County Fire Police Commissioner John Bushar at busharjr@gmail.com / 570-449-0728 and/or Brian Fenerty at fenertyb@gmail.com / 717-510-8599. Please DO NOT call. Provide your contact information, how many fire police are available to include their county, name, badge number, email address, and cell phone. Also provide what resources will be provided (traffic unit, POV, cones, barricades, etc.).
This is a chance to show a fallen trooper's family — and every trooper still on the road — that Pennsylvania's fire service shows up. Please share this with any fire police or traffic control personnel who can assist.