Williamsport, Pa. — Two Sheriff's Deputies were recognized for outstanding service on Thursday during a Lycoming County Commissioner's meeting.
Their awards for distinguished service are "the highest honor" a deputy can receive, according to Lycoming County Sheriff Mark Lusk. Lusk introduced the sergeant and deputy and described the reason for each award.
Sergeant Ryan Kepner
On July 23, 2023, Sergeant Kepner of the Lycoming County Sheriff's Office was traveling on I-180 East just after 5 p.m. The weather was bad, "a driving rain," Lusk described. Kepner came upon a streak of break lights and realized there was a motorcycle down. Activating his emergency lights, Kepner pulled over and helped to control the situation. Heavy traffic, heavy rain, and as Lusk described, "mayhem."
The motorcycle rider had been struck by multiple cars and could not be resuscitated, yet Kepner, who was off-duty, kept his professionalism and aided at the scene, preventing anyone else from getting hurt or killed.
"If you've never done it," Lusk said, "driving up on a traumatic scene involving traumatic injury is something that special people do."
Deputy Scott Lose
"Scott was one of those people who loved the Sheriff's Office so much, he left full time and came back part time," Lusk joked. Lose has more than 20 years on the job.
Lose was on his way home in Bastrass Township on Sept. 18, 2023, when he also came upon a motorcycle down. The rider was unresponsive, about 60 feet from the motorcycle, and Lose was in a touchy spot for cell service. Finding no pulse and no breathing, Lose began CPR.
A nurse happened to pass by and stopped, and between the two, they gave the victim CPR and were able to call for help. In all, they continued CPR for 10 or 15 minutes until EMS arrived.
The rider succumbed to his injuries from the crash. But the deputy's efforts in the face of "the worst of the worst" earned him a Distinguished Service Award.
Chief Deputy Curtis Ulmer presented the awards to each man, "a dedicated deputy, awarded by the Sheriff of Lycoming County to a deputy who individually distinguishes himself by performing exceptionally in service for stressful situations with exceptional tact and judgment." These types of traumatic events don't leave the deputy, he said, and it takes strength and dedication to do the job, day in and day out.
About the Sheriff's Office and staff, Lusk said, "Our units, we just don't work in the courthouse. Our units are all over this county. We put about 150-200,000 miles on our fleet here. Our vehicles are fully equipped with trauma equipment, our personnel are trained, and they know to react."
Lose credited the thorough training he received from the Sheriff's Office for being able to respond to difficult situations like the one on Sept. 18 last year. At least 15 of Lose's family members were present in the meeting to watch him recieve his award, including his 91-year-old father Tom Lose.
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