First Choice Services (FCS), a Charleston-based nonprofit that provides helpline services for several mental health and social service programs, is partnering with the Wheeling Police Department (WPD) to add a new component to its crisis response system.
FCS will provide a peer liaison to assist with law enforcement calls involving mental health or substance use crises. A peer in recovery is someone who is in long-term recovery from substance use disorder and is trained to offer professional support and referral to those seeking treatment for behavioral health or substance abuse.
According to the American Psychological Association, at least 20% of police calls involve substance use or mental health crisis.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger is looking forward to the partnership. “We are excited to welcome Erica Biggers as a new addition to the Wheeling Police Department and ready to take a new approach to substance use disorder in our area,” the Chief said. “Overdoses in the City of Wheeling increased again last year after several years trending downward. In addition, we experienced a significant rise in overdose deaths. This new approach is a rapid response to that trend in hopes of changing the course. Although Erica will be with WPD officers on a daily basis, she is an employee of First Choice Services, an outstanding organization that we appreciate working with on several levels and mutual goals.”
Ann Hammond, Help 4 WV Program Director with First Choice Services, said, “Wheeling is the first city to solidify this partnership with us. The WPD and Chief Schwertfeger have been ardent supporters of this effort from the beginning. Additionally, they had an early start in collaborative community response via their CIT and overdose response programs making them a great partner in this program. We are excited to provide their team one more tool for assisting those in crisis.”
Erica Biggers is the first WPD Peer Liaison. Erica, who has been in recovery since 2019, has worked with behavioral health and substance use services in Wheeling and has experience helping those in the community access treatment and maintain their recovery. After spending two weeks training in Charleston, she is officially in her new role at the WPD. Her first day included riding along with patrolmen to see the types of situations they experienced. Erica acknowledges that those encountering law enforcement may be surprised to see a civilian offering assistance. She said she feels there is no better place for her skillset, and added, “I feel privileged to be helping others because others helped me get where I am today.”
The West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health provides the grant for this partnership as part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline funding. The vision for 988 is to build a robust crisis care system across the country that links people who contact the lifeline with a full range of crisis services, including tools and resources to prevent future crises. Eventually, FCS plans to add a second peer position at the WPD and expand the program statewide.
