Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Chief Deputy Kent Lewis, left, and Sheriff Nelson Croft provide remarks before Ohio County commissioners.

WHEELING – Ohio County Sheriff Nelson Croft reports he and Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger are meeting with plans to work together on future projects.

Croft said he and Chief Deputy Kent Lewis met with Schwertfeger last week and took a tour of the Wheeling police headquarters.

“He has actually offered some of his services to help us build out our crisis intervention team,” Croft told county commissioners. “We had to use his team last week – successfully – and we are going to start tying together some different projects.

“So, we’re moving forward.”

Commission President Zach Abraham said he was glad cooperation was happening between the two departments.

Croft also reported his office received one bid answering their request to purchase five Chevrolet Tahoes for use as police interceptors.

The bid was for $54,280 per vehicle, and it came from Whiteside Chevrolet in St. Clairsville. Victory Ford at The Highlands did not submit a bid. Croft noted the price was $779 more than last year.

He added it cost about another $22,000 each to outfit the vehicle, though the cost for cameras in each vehicle is already covered.

Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase to start the process of obtaining the vehicles. They are expected to arrive in about 12 weeks, according to Croft.

Lewis, meanwhile, provided an update on a K-9 officer on its way to the Sheriff’s Department. At their Jan. 21 meeting, commissioners agreed to the purchase of the dog, which is expected to cost about $18,000 and come from Germany.

“It looks like the K-9 could potentially be in the air from Germany sometime next week,” Lewis reported. ”

Cpl. Kyle Dailey has agreed to be the handler for the new K-9. A name for the canine has yet to be decided, according to Croft.