Wheeling City Council is making the right move in giving further consideration to a plan from Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger to purchase more cruisers and implement a take-home vehicle policy for his department.

City Council’s Finance Committee unanimously approved the estimated $1.3 million program that will see a cruiser assigned to each officer for their use during a shift and then to drive home at the end of the day. The matter next goes before the full council for approval.

Schwertfeger made the proposal in March, informing members of the Public Safety Committee of the cost savings due to less wear and tear on vehicles that are driven all day, every day, and also the crime-deterring benefits of having additional cruisers on the streets. He said at that time such a program also is a recruitment and retainment tool for a city such as Wheeling.

A 2008 study from the International City/County Management Association found that take-home cruisers lasted at least twice as long as those that are “hot seated” — meaning they always run. That’s how the city utilizes much of its fleet now — a cruiser goes from one officer to the next, and runs all day, every day until it needs replaced.

“It will probably take anywhere from 18 to 36 months to implement such a program — due to the nature of buying new cruisers and buying all the equipment, when they’re available, and so on,” Councilman Dave Palmer said.

Funding for the cruiser program would come through federal CARES Act dollars, Palmer said.

There are issues to be discussed and policies to be enacted, such as whether officers can use their cruisers for personal business when they’re off-duty, and if they can live outside of Wheeling or Ohio County and still be eligible for the take-home program. But the program is a good step in helping to keep Wheeling safe for all residents.