McKeesport firefighters selling shirts to aid Sluganski’s family

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

McKeesport firefighters are doing their part to pay tribute to the memory of fallen Officer Sean Sluganski and show support for his family.

Sluganski was fatally shot as he and police Officer Chuck Thomas responded to a domestic disturbance call Feb. 6 in McKeesport. Thomas was also shot during the incident in the Grandview neighborhood and is recovering at home. 

After a private funeral Mass and a long procession through the South Hills and McKeesport, Sluganski will be laid to rest in a private ceremony Tuesday. Arrangements are being handled by John F. Slater Funeral Home in Brentwood. 

On Friday, firefighters from McKeesport IAFF Local 10 (McKeesport Fire Department) announced sales have opened for a T-shirt fundraiser to benefit Sluganski’s fiancee, Chelsea Cancilla, and his young daughter, Haven. 

Firefighter Matt Holtzman, who is also a McKeesport Area School Board director and owns Shogun-Graphix, designed the shirts, as he does each year for the McKeesport firefighters union’s annual fundraisers.

Union President TJ Hartin explained that each year around this time, the union puts out a St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt design and encourages people to wear the shirts to the annual fundraiser event at Clancy’s Pub in Dravosburg, which typically takes place on or around St. Patty’s Day. Money raised from the shirts is typically applied toward the union’s McKeesport Public Safety Initiative, which purchases safety and security equipment — such as bulletproof vests, stop the bleed bags, FIDO bags (for treatment of animals at fires), metal detectors and more — for organizations like McKeesport Police Department, McKeesport Ambulance Rescue Service and McKeesport Area School District.

While the city firefighters will still host their annual fundraiser at 1 p.m. May 6 at Clancy’s, they have decided to forego the St. Patty’s Day design and sell a shirt in benefit of Sluganski’s family. 

The shirt includes a McKeesport Police Department badge symbol under a blue and black bar that bears Sluganski’s name. Above the badge is a black-and-white portrait of Sluganski. Spreading out on each side of the badge are a pair of angel’s wings. 

The shirt design also includes other elements, such as Sluganski’s badge number, 300, and the words “end of watch” with the date of Sluganski’s death underneath. Holtzman said he was, at least in part, inspired by a shirt designed after three Pittsburgh police officers were killed by a gunman in 2009 in the Stanton Heights neighborhood. 

As he was designing, Holtzman was adamant that the shirt would include an image of Sluganski. 

“I wanted to include his photo,” Holtzman said, “just so that people could put a name to a face, identify with him a little bit more and understand he was a very young man.”

Holtzman pointed out that Sluganski has a young daughter and said that many of the city’s firefighters, himself included, are fathers of young children. He said Sluganski’s death hit home for them.

“We’re just trying to contribute as much as possible for that reason,” Holtzman said.

Sluganski’s mother was the first person to receive one of the T-shirts, firefighters said. Due to the large demand expected, Holtzman will work with other local graphics production companies to fulfill orders. 

The shirts can be purchased for $30 at https://my-business-107890-104961.square.site. A link to the website/order form has also been posted to the McKeesport IAFF Local 10 Facebook page. The fire department is asking everyone to “bear with us as processing times may be delayed.”

“We will do everything in our power to get shirts out as quickly as possible,” the firefighters wrote in a social media post announcing the online order form was available. 

Anyone looking to order 30 shirts or more is asked to send a message to the McKeesport IAFF Local 10 Facebook page or via the website containing the order form. Those who need a shirt larger than a 4XL are also asked to send a private message.

“We appreciate everybody’s support and patience,” Hartin said.

As of Sunday afternoon, around 1,500 shirts had been ordered, according to Firefighter Rob Patterson.

“We’re hearing from people all over the place” who want to buy a shirt, said firefighter and union Secretary/Treasurer John Munsie. Hartin said orders are coming in “from all around the country.”

“Everyone’s been 100% supportive,” Munsie said of the fundraiser for the officer’s family. Orders may be placed through 8 p.m. Saturday.

Hartin said it’s the nature of McKeesport firefighters to respond when someone is going through difficult times in the city.

“We always help with anything anybody in the community needs, especially any officers that need anything,” he said. “We fund raise all year, every year to help our officers and the school district.”

Munsie said union members didn’t hesitate to run the T-shirt fundraiser in support of Sluganski’s family.

“With our fundraising and how involved we are with the community, it just seemed like that was just the natural next thing to do,” Munsie said of directing 100% of T-shirt sale proceeds to Sluganski’s family. Hartin said the fire department stands in solidarity with the McKeesport Police Department.

We work side by side with them,” he said. “We’re all essentially brothers in the city. It’s a small city. We all know each other and we all know each other’s families. This hurts everybody, the whole city.”

Other fundraisers

The fundraising efforts to support Sluganski’s family and Officer Thomas continued over the weekend. 

Donations to benefit Sluganski’s daughter and fiancee are being collected by the ParkView Community Federal Credit Union on Eden Park Boulevard in McKeesport. That’s according to Allegheny County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #91 President Vincent DiCenzo Jr., who said the FOP worked with Teamsters Local 205 Labor Union in White Oak to set up the Sean Sluganski Memorial Fund.

“We Support Our Police” yard signs have been sold at Di’s Cornerstone Diner — which is along Long Run Road in McKeesport and is located just outside Olympia Shopping Center — and at Lampert’s Market on Eden Park Boulevard (across from Renzie Park).

On Sunday, according to an announcement from the North Versailles Police Department, the first of two Project Blue Light Pittsburgh light bulb sale drives were held at Di’s Diner. 

Project Blue Light is a nationwide effort that is believed to have started in Philadelphia many years ago. The idea is to shine a blue light bulb from your front porch light (or a light on the front of your home or in your front yard) to show support and solidarity with police, and to pay tribute to officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice while wearing the badge. 

NVPD said 100% of proceeds from blue light bulbs sold at the event will benefit the Sluganski family. The police department, which provides mutual aid for McKeesport police when requested, said the bulbs are being sold for a minimum suggested donation of $5. A blue light bulb drive is also slated for noon to 4 p.m. today at Lampert’s, according to NVPD. 

Also in North Versailles, which shares a border with McKeesport, the Fire Department of North Versailles did its part to show support for Sluganski’s family. On Saturday at its South Wilmerding Social Club, the FDNV held a benefit concert featuring local band Dallas Marks. Money was raised via ticket sales, and by way of gift basket auctions and a 50/50 drawing.

“Great night! Great donation is going to help,” the social club wrote in a Facebook post after the concert. 

In McKeesport’s Christy Park neighborhood, Nuttall Public Safety Equipment is selling decals featuring Sluganski’s badge number.  They cost $10 (cash only), and proceeds are being donated to the Sluganski family. The store is located on Walnut Street and more information can be found on the business’ Facebook page.