WVFF Continues “Hold the Line” Tour with Visit to Wheeling Police Department

WEST VIRGINIA (December 15, 2025) – Following its vote to advance nearly $18 million in Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG) funding, the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) Board of Directors concluded its final Hold the Line Tour stop of 2025 with a visit to the Wheeling Police Department, an Initial Opportunity Grant (IOG) awardee from Region 1 focused on diversion and crisis response

The Wheeling Police Department received $463,633.60 through WVFF’s Initial Opportunity Grant for the WV CIT Collaborative, an initiative designed to strengthen crisis intervention and mental health response across the community. Grant funds support expanded Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, the establishment of a specialized Crisis Unit, partnerships with local mental health providers, additional staffing, and a data-driven system to track outcomes and improve response efforts.

During the visit, WVFF Board Members and staff received an in-depth presentation from Chief Shawn Schwertfeger and department leadership, highlighting the program’s impact, including reductions in overdose incidents and improved outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health and substance use crises. The Board also toured the facility and met with officers and staff involved in the program. In the spirit of the season, WVFF brought toys to contribute to the Wheeling Police Department’s ongoing toy drive for local children.

“To the WVFF Board, what you are funding is working, and for that, we thank you,” said Chief Shawn Schwertfeger of the Wheeling Police Department. “CIT training is making a real difference for our officers and for the individuals and families we serve. This investment has strengthened our ability to de-escalate crises, connect people to care, and keep our community safer.”

The Wheeling visit marked the final stop of the 2025 Hold the Line Tour, a statewide initiative that pairs WVFF Board meetings and site visits with opportunities to see opioid settlement investments at work across the Foundation’s priority areas.

“Seeing these programs in action reinforces why responsible stewardship matters,” said Greg Duckworth, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “The work happening at the Wheeling Police Department demonstrates how strategic investment can improve public safety, strengthen partnerships, and save lives.”
For more information on WVFF, visit wvfirst.org. To learn more about Crisis Response at the Wheeling Police Department, visit https://www.wheelingwv.gov/departments/Police/CRU.