Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger speaks to local business leaders Wednesday night during the department's first monthly Downtown/Centre Market Business Crime Watch meeting. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

WHEELING – Communication is an important key to fighting crime, according to officials with the Wheeling Police Department, who welcomed local business representatives Wednesday night to the first ever Downtown/Centre Market Crime Watch meeting.

A handful of business owners and managers gathered at the Wheeling Police Headquarters in Center Wheeling to kick off the new monthly sessions. The meetings focus on crime prevention and public safety issues affecting commercial districts in the city.

“It’s something that we’ve talked about for about a year and a half, if not two years,” Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said, noting that they wanted to wait until the Downtown Streetscape Project was near completion before they moved forward with these new sessions.

The Wheeling Police Department launched neighborhood crime watch meetings back in 1997.

“We do currently have five neighborhood crime watches,” Schwertfeger noted. “This crime watch meeting is not for residents. This is for businesses. This meeting is going to end up being a lot different than a regular crime watch meeting.”

Business representatives on hand Wednesday night during the first Downtown/Centre Market Business Crime Watch meeting included The Bridge Tavern, YWCA, Valley Cheese Co., Wheeling Spring Service, Uniglobe Ohio Valley Travel, WesBanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre and River Valley Designs.

“We did expect to have more folks here,” Schwertfeger noted. “We’d like to see more attendance because I think there is some value here. But as long as you guys keep coming, we will keep coming, as well.”

Business owners attending the crime watch sessions are encouraged to participate and share information with police officers, discuss common issues related to crimes and incidents and learn ways to make their businesses safer.

“There may be some differences in what happens on 10th Street as opposed to what’s going on in Centre Market, but we can work through that,” the chief noted. “Communication is just instrumental in making sure we know what’s going on in your community. We want to work together and keep ahead of things. If we don’t know what’s going on, we can’t help you. If you are concerned, call. We need that information. You are not bothering us. That’s our job.”

Officers explained when to call 911, when to call the non-emergency number and how to submit a crime tip.

“Sometimes it may seem like it’s not that important, but it may be a critical piece of information for us,” Major Terry Walls said, noting that observations of unusual incidents in one area may help police connect details related to ongoing investigations that may help lead to arrests.

Lt. Ryan Ferrell, Bravo Shift and Downtown District Commander, reviewed the latest crime statistics throughout the city. Schwertfeger explained geographic policing, computer statistics, crime analysis and other practices implemented at the Wheeling Police Department that have helped recognize trends, initiate investigations and ultimately lower annual crime stats throughout the city in many categories in recent years.

Police can help business owners evaluate their properties and make suggestions to make them safer through the CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) program. Those suggestions could include improved lighting, changing how things are displayed or even making sure shrubbery around the property is placed strategically.

“My goal is to make these educational for you,” the police chief told the business owners.

Business owners with surveillance cameras were encouraged to register them with the police department online. They were also encouraged to place appropriate signage on the property such as no trespassing, no parking or other rules on the property to be clearly stated.

Those on hand during Wednesday’s Business Crime Watch meeting were interested in learning more from police about how to deal with homeless individuals, shoplifters, loiterers and people on their properties who may be in a mental health crisis.

Mike Carl of The Bridge Tavern & Grill noted that they have posted signs prohibiting individuals from bringing large backpacks into the restaurant, allowing them to nip potential problems in the bud.

“You have no idea what they’re bringing in,” Carl said, adding that the city and the Wheeling Police Department have helped bring significant changes in recent years to the downtown neighborhood, particularly around their business at 10th and Main streets. “You guys have done an absolutely incredible job from when we moved in in 2020 until now because it’s quiet.”

Schwertfeger noted that the police department’s Crisis Response Unit has trained mental health professionals on staff who are able to intervene and deal with individuals who may generate calls from concerned citizens and business owners, often directing them to resources they may need.

“Sometimes we can’t solve those issues immediately, but our focus has been on continuing to try,” the chief said.

The next Downtown/Centre Market Crime Watch meeting is slated to take place at 5:30 p.m. on March 4, with an anticipated presentation by the Crisis Response Unit and discussions on topics to include shoplifting and de-escalation of certain situations.