Feb 3, 2021
File photo
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger, seen here holding a past press conference, told city council Tuesday that he would like a roster of 83 to 85 officers for his department.
WHEELING Members of Wheeling City Council met with Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger Tuesday to discuss the needs of the Wheeling Police Department, especially staffing. Schwertfeger said he could use more.
This has been an ongoing conversation among city leaders in recent months, and Tuesday’s discussion comes in the wake of the release of the Wheeling Police Department’s annual year-end crime statistics. During 2020, the crime data analysis showed a slight increase in serious crimes in the city over the previous year’s figures.
File Photo
Officers in the Wheeling Police Department work the scene of a shooting.
WHEELING An effort is being made to explore increasing police staffing levels in Wheeling, where the police chief says the department does a great job being “reactive” to reports of crimes but would serve the city even better if more “proactive” police work could be done.
Some city leaders in Wheeling have contended that more patrols on the streets are what is needed to best keep crime in check.
On at least two occasions over the past month, Wheeling Councilman Ben Seidler has publicly noted that there has been a noticeable uptick in criminal activity in areas of the city.
Staff Writer
WHEELING – Efforts of life-saving personnel in the city of Wheeling were bolstered this week with the purchase of needed equipment for fire and emergency medical service crews totaling more than $550,000.
Members of Wheeling City Council this week finalized three pieces of legislation this week to authorize buying various fire and EMS equipment, including two new ambulances.
“These purchases are much needed to the Wheeling Fire Department,” Fire Chief Larry Helms said. “Ambulances are the most used vehicles in our fleet, with more than 60 percent of our calls for service being medical related.”
Council approved the purchase of two 2021 Ford E-450 Type 1 ambulances, with the purchase to be charged to the city’s Project Fund. City leaders also authorized the $70,510 purchase of three Lifepacks 15V4 monitors, defibrillators and accessories from Stryker Medical of Chicago for use by the fire department, as well as a $22,180 purchase of Fire Dex coats and pant
ERIC AYRES Staff Writer
Photo by Eric Ayres
The Wheeling 311 online request tracking system has undergone significant upgrades in recent months. The new interface for the cityâs non-emergency reporting system is much more mobile -friendly, allowing citizens to report everything from potholes to dilapidated properties and missed sanitation pickups âstraight from their smartphones.
WHEELING Recent upgrades to the city of Wheeling’s 311 request tracking system have brought significant improvements to user access, allowing citizens to easily and efficiently report non-emergency incidents to city departments.
This summer, new Ward 2 Councilman Ben Seidler expressed concerns about the city’s 311 system and the city’s ability to follow through with various service requests submitted through the online platform. Since then, Seidler said the software provider EvoGov has been working with the city on developing upgrades that help city department heads more efficiently
Staff Writer
Photo by Eric Ayres â This dilapidated home at 313 N. York St. Wheeling Island is an example of a property that is on the cityâs raze or repair list but is not on the list of properties slated for removal in an ordinance recently approved by city council. City officials are reexamining criteria in order to move the worst of the dilapidated structures in town to the top of the cityâs demolition list.
WHEELING Dilapidated structures are coming down throughout the city of Wheeling, but officials are looking to reprioritize the properties found on the city’s raze-or-repair list.