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Editor, News-Register:
Recently, the Wheeling Police Department released yet another press release celebrating their perceived accomplishments. And when framed the right way, the accolades will always pour in. Have you ever seen any other police department that celebrates crime allegedly committed by our most marginalized population?
These aren't the significant drug busts like you see just across the river. Thirty-four arrests, 32 listed, and all but a few were victimless crimes and active warrants -- many of which for victimless crimes. Four hundred hours celebrated -- or wasted -- on arresting those that are less fortunate. And while we are in a state of emergency due to the status of our state prison system, our police chief demands that laws be changed to make it easier to keep these victimless "criminals" incarcerated.
This systematic targeting of our less fortunate, many of whom are unhoused, is what they are celebrating and a "Riverbank-to-Jail Cell" policy is what our chief is advocating.
Don't fall for the headlines, again. Last year, the Wheeling Police Department, conducted a similar, headline catching "Special Operation" that specifically targeted the Wheeling Inn and its less fortunate clients. A months-long operation that concluded a year ago this (past) week. Thirteen people arrested, 14 other citations, and enough drugs seized to kill an army of ants. Twenty-seven separate incidents and only three at the Wheeling Inn. Over 200 hours wasted and justified only by my arrest on Sept. 7, 2021, for an on-property incident that occurred over a month prior -- and the person involved in that incident was charged a week after me and arrested just three days before a celebrated press release. (My charges are still pending because of continuous delays by the Wheeling Police Department.) A special operation may look great on paper, but often you need to peel back the layers to reveal their true motives and intentions.
Anand Patel
Wheeling