A sea of law enforcement dress uniforms and heavy hearts enveloped Schuylkill County as thousands gathered to say a final farewell to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Michael E. “Mikey” Pahira Jr., who was tragically killed in the line of duty last week.
The 44-year-old veteran trooper was laid to rest following an emotional, state-honors funeral service at the North Schuylkill High School Auditorium. Trooper Pahira made the ultimate sacrifice on July 1, when he was struck by an out-of-control tractor-trailer while conducting a routine commercial vehicle safety inspection along I-81 in Cass Township.
Hours before the 11:00 a.m. service began, a massive contingent of law enforcement officers from across the Commonwealth and surrounding states lined the entrance to the school. Salutes were held in absolute silence as a horse-drawn caisson carried Pahira’s flag-draped casket into the auditorium.
“Mike didn’t just carry the badge; he lived the values it represents every single day,” State Police officials noted during a briefing. “He was one of our agency’s finest motor carrier enforcement officers. The man died a hero.”
Pahira, a native of Schuylkill County, spent nearly 20 years with the Pennsylvania State Police. Having graduated in 2007 as part of the 124th Cadet Class, he spent his career protecting his home region, serving out of the Lehighton, Schuylkill Haven, and finally, the Frackville barracks, where he specialized as a Motor Carrier Enforcement Inspector.
Monsignor William F. Glosser officiated the service, highlighting Pahira’s humility and character. Attendees were visibly moved as speakers detailed Pahira’s personal life, including his recent decision to move back in with his parents in Ashland to help care for his mother as she underwent cancer treatments.
Following the service, the community of Ashland answered the family’s request, packing Centre Street to pay their respects. Hundreds of citizens stood shoulder-to-shoulder, holding American flags and weeping softly as the miles-long funeral procession moved through town toward the private burial grounds.
The service concluded with traditional, heartbreaking law enforcement honors. A three-volley rifle salute echoed through the Schuylkill County hills, followed by the haunting, solitary notes of “Taps.”
The most gripping moment came with the final “End of Watch” radio call, broadcast over police frequencies and speakers outside the school. The dispatcher called out Pahira’s name and unit number to empty airwaves:
“Dispatch to Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr… Trooper Pahira…”
“Hearing no response, Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. has completed his final tour of duty. He is clear, and he has gone home. Rest easy, brother. We have the watch from here.”
