From Medical Crisis to Law Enforcement Triumph: Graduate Overcomes Brain Tumor to Pursue Passion
February 15, 2024In a remarkable tale of resilience and determination, Luke Skledar, a 22-year-old graduate of Westmoreland County Community College’s Municipal Police Officers’ Training Academy, has defied the odds to pursue his dream career in law enforcement after overcoming a life-threatening medical crisis.
Skledar grew up in Monroeville, graduating from Gateway High School in 2020 during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. He furthered his education at Community College of Allegheny County, earning a two-year degree in general studies. A versatile athlete, he played hockey in high school and achieved a 2nd-degree black belt in martial arts, a discipline he has been practicing since the age of 8.
Being the first in his family to choose a career in law enforcement, Skledar attributes his decision to his desire to hold himself to a higher standard and seek challenges.
“I don’t like a job that’s the same every day,” he explains. “I like to be under pressure. I like big tasks. If it’s not challenging, then I won’t be trying hard enough.”
His aversion to routine jobs and a preference for tasks under pressure drew him to explore the field, initially sparked by an encounter at a high school career fair. Skledar chose Westmoreland’s Police Academy based on recommendations from several police officer friends who spoke very highly of the peer instruction and the academy's emphasis on diving into actual case law.
In an unexpected turn of events, Skledar faced a daunting medical challenge at the age of 20. Despite having no prior symptoms, he began experiencing frequent headaches. One day, during a scenario at the Police Academy, he lost sensation in his right leg and collapsed. Rushed to UPMC East in Monroeville, a CAT scan revealed a bleeding tumor on the left side of his brain. He was then life-flighted to UPMC Presbyterian where he underwent a five-hour surgery to remove over 97% of the tumor. With more than 30 staples and a drain tube, he remained in the hospital for more than two weeks for post-operative recovery that involved extensive physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Skledar recalls, “Post-op was a tough recovery. I had no strength in my right side for four days. But I said I’m not giving up regardless. It’s not over until it’s over. Any physical therapy exercises they gave me, I would just do over and over. It’s crazy to think that in 24 hours I went from healthy to not knowing if I could walk.”
Undeterred by the setbacks, Skledar returned to the Police Academy after a six-month hiatus, with only one month remaining in the program.
“It was a little tough to walk back into that building, but it was nice to be back,” he says. “That whole time I was recovering, I was determined to not give up. This is what I want to do. You just get so passionate about it, that’s what your mind is set on. The discipline of martial arts helped a ton with my overall physical health and kept me in shape.”
Throughout his journey, Skledar expresses gratitude for the support of his instructors, particularly Don Hess and Bart Lamansky, who provided guidance and encouragement during his recovery.
“Both were there when I collapsed,” he explains. “They checked in on me the whole time. I would recall that during drills Mr. Lamanski would say, ‘When you think you’re about to quit, you have 60% more in you.’”
Skledar boasts that the Police Academy offers more experience than you could ever ask for and the instructors are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. The six-month program covers overall ethics, criminal law, vehicle law, driving, firearms, scenario based training and defensive tactics, but “as long as you work hard enough, anyone can do it, at any age.”
After graduating from the Police Academy in November 2023, Skledar quickly secured a part-time job with the Swissvale Police Department in January 2024. As he looks forward to the future, he plans to continue his law enforcement career, aiming for a specialized unit such as canine or SWAT. His overarching goal is to contribute to the betterment of his department as a whole. Despite the challenges, he remains steadfast in his passion for policing and plans to stay in the Pittsburgh area.