It was good to see hard data this past week from the Wheeling Police Department showing crime in the city decreased in 2024. Most encouraging was a 20% decline in drug-related offenses and a 37% decline in overdoses — something Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger chalks up to a renewed focus from his department and its Crisis Response Unit.

“I can’t help but think that the embedded peers and the mental health unit, the Crisis Response Unit, is clearly making an impact there,” he said.

Schwertfeger noted that policing methods for drug-related calls have changed over the years from officers simply responding to a call and then going on their way to now having support staff actively working on case management. This helps some drug offenders get the help they need instead of simply ending up in jail — only to get out and go back to their prior lifestyle.

“We’re not just putting on a band-aid and leaving. We’re trying to look for long-term solutions,” the chief said. “It’s not just about making sure your officers are well equipped to deal with a crisis but you’re also looking out for your community.”

That’s the definition of community policing, something Schwertfeger and his department has done well for the past decade. Cities can’t simply arrest their way out of many problems — most notably the opioid crisis. It’s going to take innovative solutions such as the Crisis Response Unit to truly make a difference.