Community welcomes home injured Leechburg police chief

Waiting outside of Christ the King church in Gilpin, you could hear the sirens well before you saw the brigade of police cars and fire trucks — a sign injured Leechburg police Chief Mike Diebold was almost home.

Diebold was escorted home Wednesday night from UPMC Mercy hospital in Pittsburgh by more than a dozen police cars and fire trucks from across the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Family, friends and community members huddled under umbrellas and awnings in the rain to make sure they got to see Diebold when he pulled up.

"I don't have words — this is totally amazing," Diebold said of the outpouring of support.

He emerged from a police car with a smile on his face and a thumb's up.

"Stepping out of the hospital was like being reborn today," Diebold said.

Diebold, who is a licensed pyrotechnic, was setting off fireworks at the Leechburg Volunteer Fireman's Carnival on June 24 when a shell exploded prematurely, claiming a portion of his left arm.

He will spend four to six weeks in recovery before being fitted for a prosthetic arm.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser was held Thursday at the church before Diebold arrived. Organizers estimated they sold at least 600 tickets, which would equal about $5,000.

They had so many people show up they had to have their sister church, St. Gertrude's in Vandergrift, help with the cooking.

"It chokes me up," Diebold said. "It just shows you that community can really come together."

Friends and strangers alike showed up to hug Diebold and wish him well. Many struggled to hold back tears as they embraced.

The Rev. James Loew said it only made sense for the church to give back to Diebold and his family.

"Mike has served the community with distinction for so many years," Loew said. " We know one day he'll be back in full force."

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At a news conference before he was released from UPMC Mercy, Diebold said he was in pain, but he was smiling and appeared to be in good spirits.

He praised UPMC for its care and joked that he had the hospital's next TV commercial script lined up.

"We see the commercials, 'I didn't choose cancer, but I did choose UPMC,' " Diebold said. "I didn't choose to blow my arm off. I didn't choose UPMC, but I'm damn proud that helicopter pilot did."

Once Diebold becomes accustomed to a prosthetic arm, he plans to return to police work.

Diebold said he is unsure, though, whether he will continue to work with fireworks.

"That will depend on what I could do physically and the grief (fiancée) Danielle (Reinke) and my mother would give me for doing it," Diebold said.

Diebold said when he was in the ambulance, he didn't think he would survive — a feeling that would continue until his fourth day at Mercy hospital, he said.

"I could feel the blood loss, I could feel my body just shut down and give up," Diebold said. "... I had to completely concentrate on just breathing and staying alive."

Diebold has only been taking Tylenol, aside from bedtime, he said.

"From my profession, I know about the opioid epidemic, and I don't feel like becoming a statistic, so I've decided just to grin and bear it," Diebold said.

On Independence Day, he watched the fireworks from the eleventh floor of the hospital with his family.

"Family is the best medicine," he said.

After all of the excitement of his return at the fundraiser was over, Diebold said he was looking forward to getting a good night's sleep at home and spending time with Reinke, their 11-week-old son, Kyle, and Reinke's daughter, Gracie.

Reinke said having the support from the community has made all the difference during Diebold's recovery.

"This means the world to us," she said. "It's very touching — I cannot thank everyone enough."

Diebold's mother, Karen, said she was overwhelmed and thankful. She was with Diebold the night of the accident and has been by his side during his recovery.

"He looks great; he's got a good sense of humor," she said. "I just don't have all the words (to explain) how I feel."

Diebold's cousin, Debbie Keller, said she was "ecstatic" to have him come home.

"Everybody can breathe a little easier and not have to be running down (to) the hospital," she said. "Mike is so excited to be home."

Reinke looked forward to one thing when they finally made it home.

"Seeing him get to hold his son without assistance," she said. "That's going to be the highlight of our night."

Emily Balser and Theresa Clift are Tribune-Review staff writers. Reach Balser at 724-226-4680, emilybalser@tribweb.com or via Twitter @emilybalser. Reach Clift at 412-380-5669 or tclift@tribweb.com.