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Patrol Division

Contact: Commander Pete Panagakis
Email: ppanagakis@wheelingil.gov

Patrol Unit 

St. Patricks Day Traffic Enforcement March 12th to March 17th

The Patrol Officer is the most visible member of the Police Department.  Assigned to motorized patrol in marked police vehicles, officers of the Patrol Unit provide emergency services to the community 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.  The Patrol Unit is directly responsible for the protection of life and property, prevention of criminal activity, preliminary investigation of offenses reported by the public, apprehension of criminal offenders, investigation of traffic accidents, and continuous preventative patrol of the community.

K-9 Unit 

The Wheeling Police Department K-9 Unit is comprised of  Officer Jeremy Hoffman and his German Shepard partner, K-9 Duke, who was born December 12, 2004 in Berlin, Germany. Duke was brought to the United States in January 2006 and immediately started his training for police work.  Duke is trained to assist the Wheeling Police Department in numerous areas including narcotics searches, tracking, area searches, building searches, and 
handler protection.

Duke started with the Wheeling Police Department in April of 2006 and finished his basic training with his handler in June of 2006 after completing 450 hours of training.  Since completing the initial training, Office Hoffman and K9 Duke train two to three times a week in order to keep their skills sharp and meet the standards set by our criminal justice system

In Duke's first use with the department, he found over 13 pounds of marijuana hidden inside a UPS package.  Duke has also assisted the Wheeling Police Department and other surrounding departments with narcotics arrests, the tracking of fleeing offenders, and the recovery of valuable evidence.

You can see Office Hoffman and K9 Duke at one of their many K9 demonstrations they do each year.

Traffic Unit 

The Primary functions of the Traffic Unit are selective enforcement of traffic regulations and investigation of serious traffic crashes.  Additionally, the Traffic Unit is responsible for traffic engineering studies, review of development plans for traffic issues, coordination of pedestrian and traffic safety programs, and planning related to traffic movement and safety.  The Traffic Unit can be reached at 847-459-2679.

Community Service Officers 

The main objective of the Community Service Officer Program is to provide assistance to sworn personnel.  They are required to assist the general public with requests for service which do not require a sworn police officer.  Some of the duties include:

• Signing complaints and issuing citations for violations of the Wheeling Municipal Code. Animal complaints/investigations which include stray animals, animal abuse, setting humane traps, and apprehending and transporting impounded animals to the pound.

• Assist with traffic control.

• Complete tasks assigned by supervisory officers to allow orderly administration of the police service.

D.A.R.E.

Officers: Treiber, Parr, and Laverd