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Out-Thinking Drug Pushers in Wheeling

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger has what sounds like a good idea to battle drug pushers in the city. It amounts to out-thinking them.

Police and Ohio County Sheriff’s deputies responded to 95 drug overdose calls in the city last year, Schwertfeger reports. Three of those resulted in fatalities.

That is only part of the battle local law enforcement officers and deputies must wage against substance abuse. Many other crimes, ranging from shootings to burlaries, are related to illegal drugs.

Schwertfeger is asking City Council for help. Among other things, he wants council to allow him to hire a new police officer to analyze crime in Wheeling. The analyst could help police identify effective ways to prevent crime, the chief believes.

Law enforcement agencies already put a great deal of thought into battling drug pushers. But Schwertfeger wants a dedicated officer, equipped with special computer software, for the task.

That would cost about $36,000 a year for the officer and as little as $12,000 for the software.

Council should consider Schwertfeger’s proposal carefully. It makes sense, at least on an experimental basis.

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