They risk their lives every day on the job to keep people safe, without the need for glory or recognition. They don’t sport colorful superhero capes or have super-strength powers. Instead, these men serve and protect while proudly wearing badges of honor and uniforms of noble distinction. And while they don’t have special powers, they have big hearts filled with compassion and courage. Meet a local police officer, a firefighter and a paramedic who are among a special camaraderie of public service figures
who are keeping Berks County communities safe.
Scott Ohl
The Policeman
As a law enforcement professional for almost 20 years, Scott Ohl has lived and worked by the same philosophy: always make the right decision.
“A very good supervisor once told me, ‘Surround yourself with good people, and those good people will help you make the right decisions.’ It’s gotten me this far in every aspect of my life – my family, profession and friends,” says Ohl, a Pennsylvania State Trooper who supervises three Troopers and 13 civilian positions. His unit provides staff services to 189 Troopers and 41 civilian personnel for Troop L, which encompasses Berks, Schuylkill and Lebanon counties (at press time, Ohl was awaiting a reassignment as Station Commander at the Schuylkill Haven Barracks).
Since he’s unable to return the favor to his former supervisor, he pays it forward by supporting his officers and giving them the right advice, advancing their careers and helping to keep them safe. He uses his 16 years of patrol officer experience to offer the best guidance.
“As a patrol officer, it’s rewarding to make a difference and help the public,” Ohl says. “As a patrol supervisor, it’s even more rewarding to help the guys on the road or help them solve their cases. It’s gratifying to have an immediate impact on what they do.”
Ohl speaks of this overwhelming bond with his fellow officers and says, “It’s hard to explain unless you have it. Camaraderie is huge in this profession because you protect each other and work for each other,” Ohl explains. “We all have the same goal: to make sure everyone goes home safe.”
Ohl’s law enforcement career began after he earned an administration of justice degree from Penn State University in 1995. While in college, he participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He then attended and graduated from the Allentown Police Academy, landing his first local municipal police officer position at Northeastern Berks Regional Police.
In 1999, he graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy and went on to work at the Media, Skippack and Fogelsville barracks as a patrol officer with secondary functions in motor carrier enforcement and firearms instruction.
As he moved up in rank, he traded his crime and patrol duties for administrative functions, including overseeing training, equipment and personnel issues.
“The best thing about this job is it’s always changing,” Ohl says. “You can’t count on every day being the same. You never get bored.”
Mike Leagans Sr.
The Paramedic
West Reading resident Mike Leagans Sr. has worn many hats during his 20 years of public service. Whether fighting crime, battling fires or treating the wounded, Leagans has stayed tough and, more importantly, compassionate on the job.
As a paramedic/firefighter for the West Reading Fire Department and Western Berks Ambulance Association, Leagans proves that empathy is just as powerful and necessary as his lifesaving skills.
“Pulling someone out of a burning building or bringing someone back to life are awesome experiences,” Leagans says. “But what is truly gratifying is being able to comfort individuals and their families during one of their worst life experiences. I know they’ll never forget our time together. That’s what’s really rewarding to me.”
Leagans’ tenure in public service began two decades ago in North Wildwood, N.J., as a police officer after graduating from the New
Jersey State Police Academy. As an energetic young officer, he wasn’t prepared for the town’s slow pace after Labor Day, so he moved back to Pennsylvania to be a police officer and volunteer firefighter in Darby Borough, Delaware County.
While on the job in Darby, he experienced the emergency medical services (EMS) side of public service. He began volunteering as an emergency medical technician (EMT), inspiring him to make a career change.
Leagans went on to graduate from paramedic school and work for six years as a paramedic, followed by additional schooling and a seven-year stint as a medic in the Reading Hospital ER before taking on his current role.
He feels privileged to work in public service with the many selfless individuals who make daily sacrifices to ensure the safety of the communities in Berks. “It’s not a one-person gig,” he says. “It takes an entire team of incredible, skilled people to do what we do every day. It’s a complete honor to be on the street with the professional people out there.”
Leagans hopes to someday share his experiences and knowledge by teaching full time.
“This is exactly what God put me on this earth to do,” Leagans says. “I’m going to take the skills and spirit He gave me to do it.”
Leagans lives with his wife of 23 years, Cindy. They have four children: Ashley, Mike, Amber and Megan. He is active with the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society and leads a monthly support group at the Reading Rehabilitation Hospital for individuals and their caregivers.
“What an awesome day that is for me,” Leagans says. “I can forget about the street. I get to meet 25 amazing people and be loved by them. It’s a great stress release for me.”
Keith Eschleman
The Firefighter
“It’s a brotherhood that’s unbelievable.”
Firefighter/emergency medical technician Keith Eschleman speaks these words when discussing the strong bond he shares with his comrades. They laugh together, lean on each other for emotional support during tough times, and strive to ensure each goes home safely after every shift.
This lifelong Reading resident wakes up for work with the same excitement he felt 26 years ago when he joined the Reading Fire
Department. He credits his continued enthusiasm with his love for his job and his adoration for his fellow firefighters.
“I love going to work in this environment and being able to have fun and have a good time with my counterparts,” Eschleman says. “But when we get a dispatch, all kidding is aside. We’re professional and do our job.”
Eschleman began volunteering for the fire department when he would come back home on military leave from the U.S. Marine Corps, in which he served for 16.5 years. During his early decade of volunteering, he earned the name “Sarge” – a nickname that sticks with him today.
“I took everything I learned in the military and put it toward firefighting,” says Eschleman, who was honorably discharged following an injury.
Eschleman has made many courageous rescues during his career. He recalls one at the YMCA, where he held a door open so more than 12 individuals could crawl through his legs to safety.
The fire department and other organizations, such as the American Legion and Elks Club, have recognized his valiant efforts with awards and special ceremonies. While he has appreciated the acknowledgment, Eschleman says the real reward is the personal gratification he receives from helping someone.
“It’s the feeling and satisfaction you get from saving a life,” he says. “You can’t get it from a piece of paper or a medal. Your heart swells, and you think, ‘Wow, I have a purpose in this world.’”
He attributes his heroic feats to mere timing.
“Everyone is trained to do the same thing that I do,” Eschleman says. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time – at numerous times. I don’t consider myself a hero. I consider myself a very fortunate man to be able to do what I do.”
No matter what obstacle or challenge he faces in life, he lives by the words of his No. 1 hero, his father, Herbert L. Eschleman, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1989. “He taught me right from wrong,” Eschleman says. “He told me if you do something wrong, there’s nothing you can’t do to correct it. He was very instrumental in me being the person I am today.”
by Kandace Wertz | photos by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
