Wheeling Police Department upgrades Safe Room to Safe Place for public safety

WHEELS, WV — The Wheeling Police Department has reintroduced its “Safe Room” at police headquarters as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Safe Room is now called ‘Safe Place’ and is located at the main entrance of the police station. It will always be open and available to anyone who feels in danger or is concerned about their safety.

All you have to do is enter the room and close the door. This triggers an alarm to let police know that someone is inside and needs help. An officer will then come and escort you to the building for further safety.

“The concept is simple: If you feel you are in fear for your life or are concerned about your own safety, simply enter the safe room and close the door,” said police public information officer Philip Stahl of Wheeling. “And that alerts us that there’s someone in that room and needs our attention. If that happens, which fortunately hasn’t happened yet, that’s a mark for the community, for safety.”

The Safe Place is monitored 24/7 and there are 14 other locations in Ohio County marked with large yellow “Safe Place” signs on the outside.