WHEELING - City police officers have been asked to keep the peace as the world's financial leaders converge on Pittsburgh for the G-20 Summit, but Wheeling's top officer isn't willing to risk safety in the Friendly City.
Wheeling Police Department's acting Chief Mike VanKirk, said Wednesday that he has declined a request from the Pittsburgh Police Department to send officers to the summit that will be held Sept. 24-25 at the David Lawrence Convention Center and other venues. Wheeling City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to give VanKirk permission to send city officers to the summit should he choose to do so. VanKirk said police departments from all over the country were asked to send patrol officers and SWAT and K-9 units to the summit, and he considered sending a dozen officers to the international conference.
VanKirk said it was a difficult decision that he debated for days. However, he said he simply can't justify sending Wheeling officers to work in Pittsburgh.
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The mayor of Pittsburgh, Luke Ravenstahl, addresses members of the media during a briefing on the G-20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.. With him are Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, at right, and Dennis Yablonsky, CEO, Allegheny Conference on Community Development. The meeting was held for Pittsburgh officials to discuss with national media Pittsburgh’s turnaround story and why Pittsburgh is the site of the upcoming G-20 summit on Sept. 24-25.
"What it comes down to is taking care of the city of Wheeling first and foremost," VanKirk said. "What if something would happen here? I'm not going to be able to do it."
According to The Pittsburgh G-20 Partnership, the G-20 Summit brings together important industrial countries from all regions of the world. G-20 members represent about 90 percent of global gross national product, 80 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world's population.
Cpl. Phil Redford said he would have been interested in working at the G-20 Summit. He said he was well aware of the dangers involved in working an event that gathers world leaders.
"I think it would be interesting to have the opportunity to participate in something of that level," Redford said. "There is apprehension, of course. When you deal with something international there is the potential of terrorism. There is apprehension about what you may encounter, but an opportunity like that doesn't come around very often - maybe even in a career."
Ohio County Sheriff Pat Butler said Tuesday that none of his deputies will be working at the G-20 Summit. He said the department did not receive a request for its services. Sgt. Scott Adams of the Wheeling Detachment of the West Virginia State Police said no Northern Panhandle troopers will be at work in Pittsburgh, either.
Adams said he is not disappointed that he will not be working at the G-20 Summit.
"It will be ridiculous," Adams said. "There will be every type of protester there, and some won't even know what they're protesting about."
VanKirk said the Wheeling Police Department would have been reimbursed for hours worked and travel expenses resulting from the detail. He said he was not sure if those fees would have been paid by Pittsburgh police or G-20 organizers.