Salem Police Provide Update on Community Violence During City Council Meeting

Salem Police Department leaders will present a semi-annual update on several key police programs and reports to the Salem City Council on Monday.

During the presentation, you will receive updates on the city’s body camera program, Community Violence Reduction Initiative, policy changes and the 2023 annual report on use of force and vehicle pursuits.

The program and initiative are designed to increase safety, liveability and transparency in the community.

Salem police began using body cameras in early 2023. That year, they recorded a total of 84,835 incidents.

“The detailed documentation provides crucial and reliable evidence for investigations,” police officials said in the report to council. “(Bodycams) played a critical role in resolving 42% of the 122 complaints received in the community in 2023, including complaints of theft, sexual harassment, improper investigations, missing property, unethical behavior, rudeness and use of force.”

The 2023 Use of Force Annual Report shows a downward trend in incidents involving officers using firearms, tasers, pepper spray, control holds, physical countermeasures and dog bites. In 2023, 666 use-of-force incidents were reported, compared to 835 in 2021.

While calls for service, arrests and cases remained largely stable, incidents involving use of force fell 9.1% in 2023 compared to the three-year average.

Other Salem City Council Agenda Items

A vote to authorize the city manager to submit an application for project funding under the Oregon Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program. If the program is successful, it would fund a pedestrian crossing near Parrish Middle School on Market at 15th Street and school zone safety improvements on Pringle Road near Leslie Middle School.
A presentation on the results of the Human Rights Commission’s Community Engagement Survey. The study was conducted in collaboration with students from Western Oregon University to measure discrimination and people’s sense of belonging in the city.
A vote to appropriate $39,990 for a Community Services Department fee study. The study will inform staff on issues related to current fees and provide context for future fee proposals.

How to Participate in the Salem City Council Meeting

The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person in the council chambers of the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and can be viewed on Comcast Cable CCTV channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

People who wish to provide personal comments can register on the meeting lists at the entrance to the meeting room before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed to [email protected] until 5 p.m. Monday. Or, pre-register between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak at the meeting via Zoom.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at [email protected], call 503-910-6616 or follow us at X on @wmwoodworth