The operational structure of the Weirton Police Department is being realigned, as part of a cost-saving plan announced last week by Weirton’s city manager.

WEIRTON — Days after Weirton’s city manager announced his intentions to reorganize the Weirton Police Department, Police Chief Rob Alexander and members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 84 are reacting to the plan.

City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo announced the plan at Monday’s city council meeting, later issuing a memorandum putting the changes into effect Wednesday. The plan included the deactivation of the police department’s Special Response Team, the Detectives Division and the Street Crimes Unit, while pulling prevention resource officers from Weir High School and Weir Middle School. All officers would then be assigned to patrol duty.

Police headquarters would include the chief, deputy chief, a juvenile officer and a special projects officer. One officer would still be assigned to the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force.

DiBartolomeo explained Monday night the decision was the result of financial considerations.

In separate letters issued Friday, and later posted on the City of Weirton’s Facebook page, Alexander and Lt. Brian Beatty, who is president of FOP 84, responded to the decision.

Beatty stated he, Alexander and DiBartolomeo met in March concerning the city’s financial situation, and, at the time, agreed to operate with only two detectives instead of the usual five.

“Our Lodge fully understands the city’s financial situation due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The FOP Lodge is prepared to do whatever is within reason to get through this difficult time,” Beatty said. “However, we strongly disagree with the city manager’s decision to deactivate the detective division.”

Beatty said, while all officers are trained to investigate and collect evidence, the FOP is concerned it may not be feasible for an officer on an assigned patrol to dedicate the attention needed for an investigation.

Beatty also said the department’s SRT initially had been deactivated one year ago, but he and Alexander had been working on its reactivation. Monday’s council agenda initially included a resolution to purchase turnout gear for eight officers on the SRT. In addition, during the July 8 Finance Committee meeting, Alexander discussed plans to have training for the SRT later this month in order to become nationally certified.

The FOP also disagrees with the decision to pull the two PRO positions from the schools.

“The removal of resource officers from the schools will hinder the bond that is formed between our young people of our community with the police and may well put children’s safety at risk,” Beatty said.

For his part, while acknowledging there are going to be disagreements, Alexander said he wants to focus on best utilizing the resources of the department and working toward the future while continuing to protect the citizens of Weirton.

“I have goals and visions for this Department that will hopefully provide us with federal grant money to help reassemble the best Special Response Team in the area,” Alexander said. “Additionally, new scheduling will reduce overtime to afford us the ability to reactivate our Detective Division and Street Crimes Unit.”

Under the new departmental organization, Alexander said there will be eight to nine officers assigned to each shift in the department’s patrol division.

“I am confident in all of my officers, and they have been trained to handle all types of cases,” Alexander said. “As always, the safety of the good people of Weirton and the business community is my biggest concern and always has been. This is evident by this City being named the Safest City in West Virginia the last four consecutive years.”