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By Matthew Peaslee

A community hero was remembered Feb. 14 by family, friends, fellow civil servants and complete strangers. Officer Sean Sluganski, a North Baldwin native and McKeesport police officer, was laid to rest that day. At 32 years old, he was gone way too soon.

Officer Sluganski was shot and died heroically while responding to a domestic dispute call on Feb. 6 in McKeesport. 

A week later, thousands of police officers from western Pennsylvania and around the country descended upon the South Hills to pay their respects for Sluganski’s life of service. Community members from Baldwin, Brentwood, West Mifflin, McKeesport, Pleasant Hills, Jefferson Hills and other South Hills/Mon Valley communities lined a miles-long procession route to also offer their thoughts and prayers and show respect for police officers and first responders.

Sluganski, known affectionately as ‘Slug’, was a beloved son, brother, fiancé, father, friend and partner. He is survived by mother, Terri, sisters, Sarah and Shela, fiancé, Chelsea and daughter, Haven. He was preceded in death by his father, David.

His funeral Mass was held at St. Albert the Great Church of Blessed Trinity Parish in Baldwin. Mass was celebrated by bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, David Zubik, along with the Rev. Stephen Kresak, pastor of Blessed Trinity, and a host of other priests from the area.

“The sudden, tragic and seemingly senseless way that Sean has left this world is so sad and it is so heavy. But today we know that Sean is with the Lord in a place that he has prepared for him in heaven,” Kresak said. 

Kresak said Sluganski was described by friends as a “tough on the exterior but gentle, caring and loving on the interior kind of guy.”

His partner, Officer Charles Thomas Jr., was also shot in the domestic dispute on Feb. 6. He survived but is still shaken by the incident.  “I couldn’t have had a better partner and he'll forever be my hero,” Thomas said at the funeral.

Officer Frank Durante of McKeesport also spoke at the funeral. He helped train Sluganski as a rookie cop several years ago. He became a part of the Durante family as they grew closer over the years.

“I miss you, I love you, and you'll always be my best friend,” Durante said. “I would give anything in the world just to hear you tell my son you love him one more time.”

Sluganski was a hero to many, especially his own family members.

“When I was with my brother nothing was too big or scary enough. He grew up the man of the house always protecting my sister and mom,” said older sister, Shela. “You were my hero long before you were a cop.”

His fiancé, Chelsea Cancilla, remains strong despite her world turning upside down over the past couple weeks.   "He left this world doing exactly what he loved and believed in so much. He left a hero not only to us but to everyone he met," Cancilla said. "He brought the brightest light to every dark corner of my life, and gave me everything I could have ever wanted in our family and our daughter.”

Officer Sluganski was a graduate of Baldwin High School and studied law enforcement at the Allegheny County Fire and Police Academy. 

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