Westover at a glance
Population by race and Hispanic origin
Cities in this database with the most similarly-sized populations
Full-time law enforcement staff, Westover Police Department
- 16 Officers
- 1 Civilian staff
Full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents
- 4.21 Westover
- 4.3 National average, cities with under 10,000 population
- 2.2 National average
These figures reflect the Westover Police Department only, and do not include state or other police agencies that may be present in this location.
Federal grant funding for Westover
We were unable to locate any federal grant funding for this location based on our standard search parameters. Learn more about the grant programs we are tracking.
Military equipment transfers
We were unable to locate any military equipment transfers for this location using the LESO Property Transferred to Participating Agencies database published by the Defense Logistics Agency. It is possible that this location has acquired military equipment for policing via other sources or programs.
Local police misconduct data, consent decrees, and settlements
Data last updated July 10, 2025
Settlements
We identified 3 publicly reported settlements that resulted in $1,190,000.00 in monetary compensation to victims.
| Year | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
The City of Westover, West Virginia, paid a $90,000 settlement to Christine Riley, a former Administrative Assistant with the Westover Police Department (WPD). Riley and ten other WPD employees signed an August 2020 letter calling for the termination of WPD Officer Aaron Dalton due to his violations of civil rights, threats against other officers, falsification of paperwork, and use of racial profanity. In October 2020, the mayor informed Riley that her position was being eliminated, which Riley’s legal counsel argued was retaliation for her whistleblowing. This settlement followed a series of other payouts by the City for incidents of police misconduct by Dalton and other officers, including a $750,000 settlement to William Cox and a $350,000 settlement to Andre Howton. The City placed Dalton on paid administrative leave for more than a year before ultimately terminating him. |
Compensation
$90,000.00 |
| 2022 |
In January 2021, William Cox filed a lawsuit against the Westover Police Department, alleging that officers used excessive force and falsely arrested him. The case was settled for $750,000, paid by the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance, with no admission of liability by the City or the officers involved. Cox alleged that he had been “kicked, punched, pepper-sprayed, and falsely arrested by Westover officers” because he had been using his phone camera to record the officers as they drove by. Cox sustained a facial fracture as a result of the beating. Although the officers involved had apparently misplaced Cox’s phone, the interaction was caught on a nearby surveillance camera. Two years later, Cox’s phone was found in the department’s evidence room. |
Compensation
$750,000.00 |
| 2022 |
In 2020, Andre Howton filed a lawsuit against Westover Police Department Chief Richard Panico and officers Aaron Dalton and Zachary Fecsko for a beating in January 2019. The case was settled for $350,000 and paid for by the West Virginia Board of Risk and Insurance, with no admission of liability by the City or the officers involved. On New Year’s Day in 2019, officers Dalton and Fecsko came to Howton’s apartment, responding to a call. The officers and Howton got into a verbal disagreement, which led to officers removing Howton from the doorway. Fecsko proceeded to beat him, causing bone fractures and breaking three of his teeth. The officers then charged Howton with battery and three other charges, all of which were eventually dropped. |
Compensation
$350,000.00 |