City Gets Cruiser Petitions
By JOSELYN KINGArticle Photos
WHEELING - Petitions to rescind Wheeling's two-officer cruiser mandate are now in the hands of city officials.
Wheeling residents George Jones and William Hefner on Tuesday presented city council with 107 petition pages bearing 2,463 signatures. The petitions call for an election in the city regarding the cruiser law, which voters initially approved in the early 1970s.
The 2,463 petition signatures exceeds the needed 10 percent of registered voters - 2,212 - to bring the matter to a vote.
City Clerk Janice Jones now must work to validate and certify the signatures.
Mayor Andy McKenzie asked City Manager Robert Herron what would next occur if the signatures are certified.
Herron responded that the issue will be brought before council "as an ordinance to consider an election" to overturn the two-officer cruiser law.
"Hopefully, council will pass the ordinance," Herron said. "If council doesn't pass it, there will be opportunities for mandamus action to put it on the ballot."
Legal dictionaries define mandamus as ordering a public agency or governmental body to perform an act required by law when it has neglected or refused to do so.
Council members Gloria Delbrugge, Herk Henry and Vernon Seals have openly opposed eliminating the cruiser law.
Herron said that upon certification of the signatures, city officials "will come up with a game plan" for an election, and then inform the public.
McKenzie then asked Herron about the costs for such an election.
"It is the city's responsibility (to pay) for an election," Herron responded. "We did begin the process of determining the cost, and will inform council when this is complete."
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pickles
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05-06-09 11:42 PM
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There are some areas of the city that could benefit from one man cruisers, other areas still require two. One thing to consider with one man cruisers-one man cars have a higher incidence of arrests that resist and a higher percentage and increase in the use of force level. Right now, WPD has a very low percentage of arrests that resist-you will see that rise under one man cars. "But you can send 2 one man units to a bad call" That makes little difference if you have one car in e wheeling and one in warwood-one officer will be on a bad call by him or herself until backup arrives. Officers don't always have the luxury to decide when to use force or when to make an arrest and can't wait for backup. That requires an instant increase in the level of force needed to safely affect an arrest.
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EllisWyatt
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05-06-09 7:40 PM
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I don't know of any other city, county or state police force that REQUIRES two officers per cruiser. Either this is union featherbedding or Wheeling officers are not qualified to do their jobs.
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1slkmom
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05-06-09 5:16 PM
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CTMountaineer, why would two officers be ridiculous in warwood and woodsdale? Think about it... there was an armed robbery in woodsdale (I think it was one of the gambling places), another armed robbery at the new Main Street Bank.. Woodsdale is not crime free nor is Warwood! We need our officers to be safe no matter what location. Let us not forget the Pittsburgh police shooting was in a "good neighborhood"... basing your opinion on what area is ridiculous.
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AlexanderShulgin
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05-06-09 3:11 PM
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Have more foot patrol in historic and alive e- wheeling, island, downtown. Help keep the city safe and get some exercise.
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USMCDeathPimp
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05-06-09 1:08 PM
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One cop per cruiser 5am until 8pm then two for the following nine hours. They all run to the same loitering 911 call anyhow, so one is enough per car I would "think'....
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richardwhee
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05-06-09 12:58 PM
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That should be "SOME"
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richardwhee
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05-06-09 12:57 PM
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Why do smome, like these three resist change? What is in it for them?
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wheelingisland
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05-06-09 9:29 AM
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If they change the law, then they need to get more cars.. I say they should get smaller fuel efficent cars.. That way they could be a little cheaper and they can buy more of them.. If the back seat is a little smaller, so what.. If you don't want to ride in the back, don't break the law. And do they really need big cars with big horsepower? There are kids in 4 cylinder cars flying down the street.. They get where they are going quick enough.. I hope Council members Gloria Delbrugge, Herk Henry and Vernon Seals at least give the voters a chance to decide..And they don't block this somhow.
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acousticportal
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05-06-09 8:49 AM
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Clever mernie.
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mernie
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05-06-09 8:46 AM
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The original petition and vote was ridiculous. Police chiefs are paid to know how to deploy their officers. Repeal this now and take the handcuffs off of the department!
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EllisWyatt
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05-06-09 6:31 AM
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I can understand the need for two men in a cruiser in certain areas and at certain times but it makes absolutely NO sense to let voters decide day to day police matters. Isn't that why you pay a chief? Any force has to have flexibility. If the chief feels that an area or a time only requires 1 man in a cruiser (ie. speed trap in the Grove, etc) then he should have that option. If he has to send officers to East Wheeling at 3 am on a Saturday morning, he can send a two man cruiser. City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Ohio County, PA State Police, WV State Troopers-all ride 1 man to a cruiser. Why can't Wheeling at least permit this, if the chief deems it necessary? This is no different than leaving military strategy in the hands of voters.
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CTMountaineer
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05-06-09 6:27 AM
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Wheeling is a small town. Even big cities don't have such a rediculous law. The Chief should have the flexibility to assign his patrolmen in a way as to best protect the people. Requiring two cops in a car for Woodsdale or Warwood is rediculous.
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