Overdoses down for the year
Second SRO started his new position
Police Chief Randall Reinke explained that drug overdoses are down for the year. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – While the city saw an uptick in overdoses last month, the number is actually down year to date.
Police Chief Randall Reinke reported at the October public safety committee meeting that police responded to five overdoses during the month of September.
“The numbers have been down all year,” Reinke said. “There have been 19 year to date compared to 38 at this time last year. For some reason we did see that uptick in September, but we hope that trend doesn’t continue.”
Reinke also pointed out that this September there were 24 related drug arrests compared to 17 last year.
“Our road officers are really doing a lot of extra work going out there finding any drugs they can using our dog, or dogs from other communities when ours is not available,” Reinke said. “The amount of arrests is up almost 24 percent this year and I attribute that to a lot of these drug related cases. Our officers are doing a great job out there going after this very aggressively.”
Reinke said police officers are working extra hard now that Officer Dan Shonk has taken on his role as the school district’s second school resource officer along with SRO Adam Innocenti.
“Back in September Officer Shonk attended ALICE instructor training and started with the schools Sept. 23,” Reinke said, adding that Shonk also recently spent a week in Columbus for some SRO training. “Pulling him off the road is leaving us a little thin, but I think it was important to the schools and the city to have him start in his position.”
“Thank you for getting him in there this quick,” said Councilor Ralph Copley.
Safety Director Matt Hiscock said 53 applicants recently passed a civil service exam for a patrol officer who will replace Shonk on the road. He said he is looking forward to beginning initial interviews to get the position of patrol officer filled.
Police Chief Randall Reinke reported at the October public safety committee meeting that police responded to five overdoses during the month of September.
“The numbers have been down all year,” Reinke said. “There have been 19 year to date compared to 38 at this time last year. For some reason we did see that uptick in September, but we hope that trend doesn’t continue.”
Reinke also pointed out that this September there were 24 related drug arrests compared to 17 last year.
“Our road officers are really doing a lot of extra work going out there finding any drugs they can using our dog, or dogs from other communities when ours is not available,” Reinke said. “The amount of arrests is up almost 24 percent this year and I attribute that to a lot of these drug related cases. Our officers are doing a great job out there going after this very aggressively.”
Reinke said police officers are working extra hard now that Officer Dan Shonk has taken on his role as the school district’s second school resource officer along with SRO Adam Innocenti.
“Back in September Officer Shonk attended ALICE instructor training and started with the schools Sept. 23,” Reinke said, adding that Shonk also recently spent a week in Columbus for some SRO training. “Pulling him off the road is leaving us a little thin, but I think it was important to the schools and the city to have him start in his position.”
“Thank you for getting him in there this quick,” said Councilor Ralph Copley.
Safety Director Matt Hiscock said 53 applicants recently passed a civil service exam for a patrol officer who will replace Shonk on the road. He said he is looking forward to beginning initial interviews to get the position of patrol officer filled.
