WHEEL PULLING, WV — The Wheeling Police Department has re-launched its ‘Safe Room’ at police headquarters as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Safe Room will now be known as the ‘Safe Place’ and will be located at the front entrance of the police headquarters. It will always be open and accessible to anyone who feels in danger or is concerned about their safety.

All you have to do is enter the room and close the door. This activates an alarm, which notifies police that someone is inside and needs help. An officer will then come and escort you into the building for added security.

“The concept is simple; if you feel afraid for your life or concerned about your own safety, enter the safe room and close the door,” Wheeling Police Department Public Information Officer Philip Stahl said. he said. “And that alerts us that there’s someone in that room and needs our attention; if that happens, which fortunately hasn’t happened yet, that’s a feature that’s there for the community, for safety.”

Safe Place is monitored 24/7, and there are 14 other locations in Ohio County marked outside with large yellow “Safe Place” signs.