City police, employees commended
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- In the season of giving, city leaders recognized employees and law enforcement who have gone the extra mile for residents.
Police Chief Matt Arbenz reported the department's community outreach programs to provide assistance to residents who may be in need have proven successful and garnered notice from the state.
"We were contacted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office," he said Monday to city leaders during a council meeting. "Much of that effort being coordinated by Officer Greg Clark, and they asked would we consider putting together some sort of procedure in a training format for other departments to use."
Mayor Kathryn Thalman commended Clark's efforts and Arbenz's leadership.
"I can't thank you guys enough," she said.
Arbenz further elaborated afterward.
"They just wanted to know if we could maybe detail some of the things that we do," he said.
"They know that we do a lot of community outreach, especially with the elderly, and asking if we could put some of the procedures and processes that we do into a written format for them to look at, maybe educating other departments, what they could do to follow suit."
Arbenz said the program has multiple prongs, including juvenile outreach in the schools headed up by resource Officer Michael Duplaga.
"During COVID we were going to homes and checking on students," he said.
Arbenz said the outreach to St. Clairsville's senior residents is spearheaded by Clark, who works with Adult Protective Services.
"A lot of departments don't really hook up and coordinate with Adult Protective Services. Officer Clark keeps in constant contact with all of these individuals. If they're behind on utilities or if they need help with their heating bill, he hooks them up with the HEAP programs and other programs to get things paid for, to make sure they have food coming in from the food pantries. He also educates them about how to stay away from scams," Arbenz said.
He added that the department also works in cooperation with the Belmont County Community Access, Resources, Education and Solutions program formed to connect vulnerable residents with resources.
"When everybody cooperates and gets on the same page and works together, things are getting done," he said.
Arbenz said his department has seen results.
"I'd say the advantages are to the elderly people who we keep better track of. The advantage to us is the feeling that we're happier knowing many more people in this town aren't forgotten about, especially elderly who don't a lot of time have a voice, who don't understand that they can get help financially, they can get help with medical bills," he said.
He said the department is also rolling out a veterans outreach program.
"All of our officers are trained in crisis intervention with drug and alcohol abuse and mental health abuse, but we're now looking at accommodating veterans specifically," he said. "I'm looking for some support from VFW members, American Legion members to volunteer to work with the police departments when there is a veteran in crisis, because a lot times they don't want to talk, but if they have someone who was part of the service that they were in, then they would be more apt to open up and accept ideas, accept help."
Arbenz said anyone who would like to be included -- or anyone with an elderly family member they would like to see included -- on an outreach checkup is welcome to call the city building at 740-695-1324.
Other city employees have also gone above and beyond the call of duty. Mayor Kathryn Thalman commended street employees Mark Berry, Brian Coleman, Will Burghy, Mike Stewart, Jerry Abate, Don McCloud and Darrin Pytlak for assisting an elderly woman when her dog panicked while being walked on a leash, pulled her down and ran away. The employees found the dog and returned it.
Employees of the utility department also noted that a resident who always paid bills on time had not paid them by the due date and arranged a wellness check. The individual had died of natural causes.
Council President Jim Velas also thanked the city employees as well as the police for their work maintaining traffic during the recent Christmas parade and Thanksgiving Turkey Trot fundraiser.
Meanwhile, Thalman reminded the public that a live Nativity by East Richland Evangelical Friends Church will be in front of the courthouse 6-8 p.m. Thursday.