New Team in Place at Police Department

Mayor: Hopes ‘final piece’ of leadership brings ‘stability’

By Jason Togyer
The Tube City Almanac
November 20, 2025
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Fran Angert (center), shown with Mayor Michael Cherepko and Police Chief Josh Alfer, has been promoted to captain in charge of McKeesport police’s patrol division. (Tube City Almanac photo)

With the promotion of a new captain of patrol, McKeesport police have a new leadership team in place that will be responsible for building community-department relations, the city’s mayor said.

This month, McKeesport City Council approved the promotion of Lt. Fran Angert to captain. A native of Munhall and a graduate of Steel Valley High School and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy, Angert has been a McKeesport police officer since 1995 and is well-known as one of the department’s K-9 handlers.

In September, council approved the promotion of Nick Matthews to captain of detectives and Sidney Summers to assistant police chief. Along wth police Chief Josh Alfer, who was sworn into his position in July, the team represents a complete changeover in command at the department over the past two years.

“I don’t think we’ve ever seen the top three positions change so quickly in the City of McKeesport,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “Chief Alfer has done an incredible job, and we’ve been fortunate to have Sidney Summers and Nick Matthews. And with Captain Angert, we have the final piece to really give the stability that we need with the leadership of this department.”

The position of captain of patrol had been vacant for several years before Angert’s appointment, Cherepko said.

Police Chief Josh Alfer, Captain of Detectives Nick Matthews and Mayor Michael Cherepko. (Tube City Almanac photo)

Council also approved the hiring new patrol officers John McFadden and Robert Roche.

Angert, who has been a lieutenant for five years, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1988 to 1992, maintaining F-16s at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He and his wife, Nichole, have two sons.

His wife has, behind the scenes, been the biggest booster and supporter of his career, Angert said: “She’s always been there and she’s done so much for me.”

“I like being with the public and I like interacting with the public,” he said. “If you don’t see me around the station, it’s because I’m out there dealing with the public.”

Angert, who has worked with three K-9 partners, said that in addition to aiding in tracking and apprehending suspects, police dogs have had great public relations value for the McKeesport department.

“They are good opportunities to interact with people at public events,” he said. Angert and his family recently mourned the loss of his partner of 10 years, K-9 officer Ryco, who died suddenly in October following a medical emergency.

Angert said his goal is for patrol officers to continue to have a highly visible presence, especially at important community events, and get to know residents.

“I try to make it to every public function and join in,” he said.

Originally published November 20, 2025.

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