The new school year also means the return of school-related protocols for the Taylorville Police Department.  They are working to ensure safe environments in local schools, whether through traffic enforcement, active shooter response training, and being a valuable resource for students.  All of this comes amid data moving in the right direction with regards to crime incidents and drug addiction recovery. 

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler says school resource officers assist with patrolling traffic at the start and end of school days.  He urges drivers to slow down in school zones and not to pass school buses which have stopped to let passengers on or off. 

Research published in the journal JAMA Surgery in 2023 shows gun deaths are more likely in small towns than in large cities.  With those findings, Chief Wheeler is taking steps to educate and prepare community members and first responders for incidents like these. 

Over the summer, the Police Department partnered with Kroger to provide school supplies for students in need.  There are still some supplies available for anyone who needs them. 

Outside of school, the department’s data shows that criminal incidents dropped in July.  This includes service calls and thefts.  Chief Wheeler also says their efforts to help community members recover from drug addiction are working. 

More information on the Taylorville Police Department is available at www.taylorville.net/police-dept. 

Police Chief Dwayne Wheeler appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.