Published on September 23, 2020

Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger and Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas jointly launched a new local Crime Stoppers Upper Ohio Valley Program on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Crime Stoppers is a community program that allows citizens to provide anonymous information about criminal activity to help keep their neighborhoods and cities safe.

Cash rewards are given based on the confirmation of anonymous tips that lead to an arrest. Tips will only be received by calling 877-TIPS4US (877-847-7487) from a cell phone or landline.  No tips will be accepted through social media, the website, or email to keep the informant’s information confidential and anonymous.

“The ultimate goal is to make our communities safer,” explained Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger. “If we have major cases, major crimes, wanted fugitives- this is an opportunity for folks who always ask in this Valley, ‘How can we help you?’ - this is an opportunity for them to help us.  The program is not just for Wheeling and Belmont County.  It is for the entire region. The information that will be gathered and vetted and followed up is information that will benefit the entire upper Ohio Valley. We are happy to do it. We are proud of the partnerships with many organizations including non-profits and local law enforcement.  This is going to be a very successful program,” Chief Schwertfeger said.

“Belmont County and the Wheeling Police Department have a very good working relationship from civic collaborations like Operation Toy Lift and now we will be working together on Crime Stoppers,” added Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas.  “We jumped on this new partnership right away when the police chief asked. The criminals think the river is like a fort.  They will come over and commit crimes in Wheeling and come back over into Ohio, and vice versa.  By law enforcement working together, we are going to stop that. Criminals that think they can use the river as a barricade, it’s going to stop,” concluded Sheriff Lucas.

The program will be administered by a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit.  Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Crime Stoppers Upper Ohio Valley, P.O. Box 190, Wheeling, WV 26003.  Please make checks payable to Crime Stoppers UOV.  Donations may also be made electronically through the website at crimestoppersuov.com.

Local citizens can stay informed of reported crimes and general information by following Crime Stoppers Upper Ohio Valley on their website and Facebook and Instagram sites.  General questions can be answered at 304.907.9373 or by emailing info@crimestoppersuov.com.