Wheeling Police: Drug-Related Deaths Declined in 2022
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WHEELING -- Drug overdoses and overdose deaths in Wheeling plummeted between 2021 and 2022, according to statistics released Friday by the Wheeling Police Department, but drugs remain an issue in the city, as drug-related arrests increased over the past year.
Arrests for drug offenses were up 17% from 2021, but Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said that had a direct effect on the drop in drug overdoses and overdose deaths. Overdoses fell 22%, from 210 in 2021 to 164 in 2022. Overdose deaths fell 60%, from 28 in 2021 to just 11 in 2022.
"We've had several significant narcotics arrests and seizures," Schwertfeger said. "When you take a significant amount of dope off the street, you're going to see a reduction."
But Schwertfeger said the drop in overdoses and deaths -- especially after seeing years of increases in those categories, is about more than arrests and seizures. Partnerships with organizations like Northwood Health Systems -- which have come together to help people battle mental health difficulties and addictions -- have played a big part.
"There's a large group of community social service networks working hard in the prevention and treatment arenas," Schwertfeger said. "That's playing a role as well."
This graphic provided by the Wheeling Police Department shows overdose death statistics in the city over the last four years.
The WPD reported a 6% increase in overall arrests from 2021. Arrests for what the department categorizes Group A offenses, such as property crimes and crimes against people, were up 13%. Arrests for Group B offenses, like nuisance, quality of life and highway safety/traffic offenses, were down 2%.
Burglary was the crime that grew the most in 2022, up 61% from 2021, and mostly happened in vacant structures. Thefts also rose 13% and items most stolen were bicycles, catalytic converters and unsecured outdoor items, as well as copper and metal objects inside vacant structures.
Schwertfeger said the catalyst for many of those crimes is drugs, people breaking into structures and stealing items to get more.
"Almost all of it," he said. "The majority of this stuff we're talking about, the thefts and the burglaries, the property crime, all that is fueled by the drugs. If we didn't have the drugs we wouldn't have nearly any of this stuff."
Schwertfeger also mentioned recidivism as another reason for the crime numbers, people who are arrested on a Monday, return to the street and are arrested just days later.
About the increase in burglaries, Schwertfeger reiterated that the vast majority of those are happening in vacant structures, not occupied homes. He also mentioned that 2021 saw a significant drop in burglaries and 2022's totals climbed back to around 2020's number.
Crimes that decreased the most from 2021 were weapon offenses, down 42%, and vandalism, down 30%.
"Wheeling is very blessed to be a safe city," Schwertfeger said.
Schwertfeger would like to make the city even safer, and said boosting the numbers of his police force would help with that. The WPD currently has 10 open spots and Schwertfeger said he is actively recruiting to fill them.
The WPD is visiting area high schools and setting up recruitment tables. Schwertfeger thinks the assigned vehicle program, which allows each WPD officer to take a police cruiser home rather than keeping fleets of patrol vehicles in a rotation of on-duty officers, and the new Wheeling Police headquarters which is scheduled to open soon will help attract new officers.