WHEELING — Members of the West Virginia First Foundation — the organization that distributes opioid settlement money within the Mountain State — learned Thursday about the positive impact its funding is having on the city of Wheeling’s crime rates.

Wheeling Police Department Chief Shawn Schwertfeger conducted a presentation about how the department has used its share, $463,633, and the positive impact it is having on reducing crime as well as saving lives in the city.

A portion of the funding has been used to create a Crisis Response Unit for the department. The unit responds with police officers to drug overdoses and other calls related to mental illness and homelessness to help counsel people and get them the resources they need. Members of the unit on hand for Thursday’s event include

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