Traffic Impacts - 10/23 - 10/31

We are anticipating the following road closures and traffic impacts this week:

Saturday, October 29: Devil’s Chase road race starts at 8am at the Salem Willows soccer field on Fort Ave. No road closures are planned, however expect traffic delays until 10:30am on the following roadways: Fort Ave, Derby St, Szetela Ln, Webb St, Andrews St, Washington Sq, Essex St, Charter St, Derby St, Winter Island Rd, Columbus Ave, Restaurant Row, and Memorial Dr. Several no parking tow zones will be posted on Memorial Dr, Victory Rd, and Larkin Ln.

The Seabourn Quest port of call to Salem, previously scheduled for Saturday, October 29^th, has been CANCELLED. The vessel will not be stopping at Salem due to weather concerns. Therefore the Salem Wharf parking lot on Blaney Street will remain open as normal on the day.

Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30: There will be no on-street parking on Essex St from Hawthorne Blvd to New Liberty St from 6am to 10pm. This section of Essex St will also be closed to through traffic from 9am to 10pm. Access to Museum Place garage will be via Brown St only.

We may close additional streets including Essex Street from North St to Washington, Church Street, Federal Street, Lynde Street, or Washington Street depending on the crowds Saturday and Sunday. 

Monday, October 31: Halloween events will include multiple road closures and heavy traffic delays for the entire day and night. Expect major traffic delays on Rte 114 and Rte 1A. Downtown streets will close to all traffic no later than 4pm. Road closures include: Essex St at Crombie St and Barton Sq to Union St, Washington St from New Derby St to Bridge St, Federal St from St. Peter’s St to North St, Washington Sq N and W from Essex St to Brown St, Hawthorne Blvd, Derby St, Rte 1A, Congress St near Pickering Wharf, Charter St, Central St, Front St, and Lafayette St from New Derby St to Front St. Bridge St at Sgt. James Ayube Memorial Dr will also close to all traffic between the westerly overpass ramps and Sgt. James Ayube Memorial Dr from 9:30pm to 11:30pm for the closing fireworks.

Monday, October 31: Access into the MBTA Parking Garage will be restricted as of 6 p.m. on Halloween night. Access into and out of the MBTA Parking Garage will be restricted between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. (or the completion of festivities).

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The MBTA will be adding additional trains on Saturday and Sunday. We strongly encourage using the MBTA Commuter Rail if you are traveling to Salem. See more on this page at the MBTA website.

The U. S. Postal Service mailboxes in the downtown area (B5 Zone), including the mail box at Riley Plaza and the mailboxes in front of the Salem Post Office will be out of service from 4:00PM on Friday October 28th until Tuesday morning November 1^st due to the Haunted Happenings Events and Halloween.

As always we suggest following us on Twitter and Facebook for the most up to date information during the week and on Halloween.

Although we make every effort to keep roads open we will close any roads necessary to maintain public safety without notice. Officers will be posted in key intersections at peak times to assist with traffic when possible. 

Additional information about traffic and parking on Halloween will be posted on our Facebook page this week. Please be sure to check there before planning your trip.

Traffic Impacts 10/16 - 10/22

We are anticipating the following road closures and traffic impacts this week:

Various Morning All Week: Entrance corridor street sweeping will be taking place starting Tuesday, October 11 and continuing through Thursday, October 20th. The streets scheduled to be swept will be "No Parking/Tow Zones" from 5:00 am to 7:00 am. For details please see this page on Salem.com.

Sunday, October 16: Witch Ride Motorcycle Ride has been rescheduled for Sunday October 16. Rte 114 and Rte 1A will be impacted, but not closed to traffic, from Marblehead to New Derby St. Rte 1A, including Derby St, will be closed to traffic between Lafayette St and Congress St. Congress St will also be closed to traffic. Anticipate road closures and traffic delays from noon to 3pm. There will be a no parking tow zone on Derby St between Lafayette and Congress St from 11am to 3pm.

Monday, October 17:  In order to comply with the requirements of the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act, for the arrival of the Victory One cruise vessel at the Footprint Wharf adjacent to Salem Wharf on Blaney Street, the southern portion of the public parking lot at Salem Wharf on Blaney Street will be closed from Monday, October 17^th at 1:00 a.m. through Tuesday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m
.

In addition, temporary no parking zones will be posted along both side of Blaney Street and on the southern side of Derby Street in the vicinity of Blaney Street during this time period.

Salem Ferry passengers who wish to park at the Blaney Street/Salem Wharf parking lot will be permitted access, but will need to pass through a security point. Ferry passenger vehicles will be allowed access on a space available basis.

Saturday, October 22 & Sunday, October 23: There will be no on-street parking on Essex St from Hawthorne Blvd to New Liberty St from 6am to 10pm. This section of Essex St will also be closed to through traffic from 9am to 10pm. Access to Museum Place garage will be via Brown St only.

Although we make every effort to keep roads open we will close any roads necessary to maintain public safety without notice. Officers will be posted in key intersections at peak times to assist with traffic when possible.

Academy Graduation

Congratulations to our two newest additions Corey Gauthier and Wesley Regan on graduating the police academy today! Welcome aboard!

Wesley Regan and a Corey Gauthier

 

Road Closures 10/9 - 10/15/16

We are anticipating the following road closures and traffic impacts this week:

Various Morning All Week: Entrance corridor street sweeping will be taking place starting Tuesday, October 11 and continuing through Thursday, October 20th. The streets scheduled to be swept will be "No Parking/Tow Zones" from 5:00 am to 7:00 am. For details please see this page on Salem.com.

Saturday, October 15: Salem YMCA Witch City 5K road race starts at 9am at the Salem Willows. No road closures are planned, however anticipate traffic delays along the following roadways: Memorial Dr, Essex St, Rte 1A, Rte 114 including Hawthorne Blvd, Derby St, and Fort Ave, ending at Restaurant Row.

Sunday, October 16: Witch Ride Motorcycle Ride has been rescheduled for Sunday October 16. Rte 114 and Rte 1A will be impacted, but not closed to traffic, from Marblehead to New Derby St. Rte 1A, including Derby St, will be closed to traffic between Lafayette St and Congress St. Congress St will also be closed to traffic. Anticipate road closures and traffic delays from noon to 3pm. There will be a no parking tow zone on Derby St between Lafayette and Congress St from 11am to 3pm.

Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16: There will be no on-street parking on Essex St from Hawthorne Blvd to New Liberty St from 6am to 10pm. This section of Essex St will also be closed to through traffic from 9am to 10pm. Access to Museum Place garage will be via Brown St only.

 Although we make every effort to keep roads open we will close any roads necessary to maintain public safety without notice. Officers will be posted in key intersections at peak times to assist with traffic when possible.

MDA Witch City Ride Postponed

Due to the rain expected tomorrow, the MDA Witch City Ride scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed until Sunday, October 16.

 We expect the same route and time line, and we will post more detailed information at the beginning of the week.

Road Closures 10/4/2016 - 10/9/2016

As we enter into Haunted Happenings season again the Salem Police are prepared to manage traffic as best as possible. We will be posting anticipated road closures and events that will impact traffic and parking each week on our site at salempd.org, on our Facebook page, and on our Twitter account. Your encouraged to follow our social media accounts and sign up for the Code Red alerting system to stay informed as the month proceeds. Closing roads and restricting parking is an inconvenience and we understand the impact it has on our community, however we must consider the safety of the public when planning for events in the city. Whenever possible we will keep roads open to traffic and will be deploying officers in key intersections at peak times when possible to assist with traffic flow.

We are anticipating the following road closures and traffic impacts this week:

Tuesday, October 4th: The Blaney Street Lot will be closed due to the arrival of the Le Boreal cruise ship. Limited parking will be available for ferry commuters only on a first come, first serve basis. All vehicles and persons entering the lot will be subject to a search.

Thursday, October 6th: The annual Haunted Happenings parade will begin at 6:30 pm through downtown. Roads will be closed at 6:00 pm and we anticipate opening roads immediately following the parade's end at 8:00 pm. The parade starts on Congress Street, continues onto Derby Street, onto Lafayette Strret, onto Front Street, onto Washington Street, onto the Essex Street pedestrian mall, to Hawthorne Boulevard, and onto Salem Common. The entire parade will be a No Parking/Tow Zone area.

Saturday and Sunday, October 8th & 9th: Essex Street from Hawthorne Boulevard will be posted as a No Parking/Tow Zone from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. This same area will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Sunday, October 9th: The Witch Ride Motor Cycle Ride will be entering Salem at about 11:30 am from Marblehead. The ride follows Route 114 from the Marblehead line to Derby Street, to Congress Street, and into Shetland Park. The route will also be posted No Parking/Tow Zone from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Although we make every effort to keep roads open we will close any roads necessary to maintain public safety without notice.

2016 Community Survey

We have opened our annual community survey. The Salem Police Department is conducting this survey to better understand how its residents feel about crime, safety and the performance of the Police Department. This is your chance to help us learn more about how you view your neighborhood. We will use your answers to improve the Department. Your responses are strictly anonymous.

The survey is available in English at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C2RJ63H
The survey is available in Spanish at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZW2SSCT

Residential Street Sweeping

The City of Salem will begin residential street sweeping on Monday, September 12th. Please review the information on this page at Salem.com and have your vehicles off the street on your sweeping day. Vehicles not moved may be subject to ticketing and towing.

Please contact the Department of Public Services during normal business hours with questions or concerns.

Click here to view Street Sweeping Information

Special Movice Screening

The Salem Overdose and Substance Use Prevention Coalition will be hosting a free movie screening of an episode of "Road to Recovery" next Wednesday, September 14th, at 6:30pm at the Salem Visitor Center.

This episode will talk about the recent trends in prescription opioid misuse and heroin use, opioid use disorders, efforts to reduce the distribution and use of heroin, and prevention/treatment efforts. A special panel discussion to follow after the episode.

Peace March 9/3/16

On Saturday, September 3, 2016 a peace march organized by several local churches will be taking place starting at 2:00 pm. The march will follow the following route:

• Start on Congress St at Leavitt St
• Continue up Congress St to Harbor St
• Turn left onto Harbor St
• Turn right onto Lafayette St
• Turn left onto New Derby St
• Turn right onto Washington St
• Turn right onto Church St
• Continue onto Brown St
• Continue onto Salem Common

There will be rolling road blocks during the march, please seek alternative routes during the march.

Derby Street Mile 8/26/16

The Derby Street Mile road race will be Friday, August 26, 2016. The race begins at Salem Willows at 7:00 pm and follows along Fort Avenue to Derby Street and ends at Derby Wharf.

Expect roads along the race route to be closed during the race. Detail officers will be on hand to assist with traffic when possible. We anticipate roads being closed from shortly before 7:00 until the race passes at about 7:45. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during this time.

Fall 2016 Citizens Police Academy

The Salem Police Department will be offering a Citizens’ Police Academy starting on September 28th, 2016 and will run for a ten (10) week period.  The goal of the Citizens’ Police Academy is to offer insight into the Department as an organization, discuss current case law that affects policing today, and to give a general understanding of the day to day duties of a Salem police officer. This ten week course will cover topics such as patrol, firearms, search & seizure, underwater criminal investigation, modern day police technology, use of force and other areas of interest.  Topics will be taught by patrolmen and superior officers with particular expertise in the subject matter.  Additionally, the Salem Citizens’ Police Academy will also host a “ride along” to participants who attend at least eight of the ten class sessions.  This ride along allows students to “patrol” with officers during their regular tour of duty.  Students will also be given an opportunity to utilize the department’s firing range under the supervision of a police firearms instructor. The Citizens’ Police Academy will be held at the Salem police station on Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.  There is no fee for attending the Citizens’ Police Academy and it is open to any Salem resident who is eighteen years of age or older.  Class size is limited 25 students.  Applications are available at the Salem Police Department or online at www.salempd.net.  In order to be considered for the first class beginning on September 28th, completed applications must be submitted no later than September 19th, 2016.  

You can find the application online at http://bit.ly/spdcitapp

National Night Out

Don't miss Salem's first National Night Out! National Night Out is an opportunity for the community to come out and build relationships with your police department. We'll be holding our first National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 from 5 pm to 8 pm on Salem Common.  We will be showcasing a selection of police and fire vehicles, a demonstration by our Canine Unit, a bounce house, obstacle course, bike raffle, and more! Thank you to our sponsors Target, Home Depot, the Boys and Girls Club, Total Entertainment, and local businesses. 

Thank You to Our Community

The Salem Police owe a huge thank you to our community for the amazing support we have seen over the last few days from our community.

A message from Chief Mary Butler

     In light of recent events in Minnesota and Louisiana, and past incidents in Baltimore and Ferguson to name a few, where police response resulted in the loss of life, the Salem Police Department has received a couple of inquiries about what our Department does to provide protections to our citizenry to prevent these types of tragedies and what are standards are for police conduct.
    We appreciate the concerns and inquiries and encourage involvement.  We want to ensure our citizens that we take the responsibility of protecting our community and all its citizens very seriously and we do not take lightly any circumstance that prompts our response to use force.  Massachusetts law enforcement agencies tend to take the lead in the country with training, policies, and response within our communities.  The DOJ recently rolled out their new biased-based training for Police, yet the State of Massachusetts required this training of all its law enforcement officers this past year.   This put the Salem Police Department in its third training on bias-based/cultural diversity training in the last several years.  This training begins at the inception of an officer’s academy training provided by the Mass Criminal Justice Training Council.
      More than 60% of Salem’s sworn personnel have received intense Crisis Intervention Team training to assure understanding of de-escalation techniques and handling those in crisis, including those suffering from cognitive delays, mental health or substance abuse issues.  Use of Force training occurs every year to comply with our standards and any changes to state or national policy which includes the primary directive of the least amount of force necessary.  Officers have received training in conflict resolution and problem solving.  Our policies direct our response whether through arrest, handling of prisoners, traffic enforcement, use of force, response to calls, training, civil disturbances, domestic violence, or handling transgender populations, to name a few.  All of these policies fall within the requirements of the State Accreditation standards which have been met by this department and have been again reviewed in May.   Within these policies and procedures includes rules of conduct and the forms of disciplinary actions and hearings of conduct.  .  We have been working with the City’s IT Department to have our non-tactical P&P uploaded to website, which we hope will be accomplished soon.
The Salem Police Department initiated an outside company to review the Department’s policies and procedures, staffing, and responses.  This company is still in the process of review and several Salem citizens have a seat at the table to review the report and to assist in instituting any changes that may be recommended.   As stated earlier, we encourage involvement and have three current citizen groups assisting this department.  Community engagement is not just a term, but it is a philosophy of approach within our community to foster and enhance the police-community relationship.  This requires ongoing effort to maintain this relationship.  As such we have police beat officers and sergeants attend the neighborhood meetings regularly.  We conduct the Citizen’s Police Academy and Youth Citizen’s Police Academy to engage with our citizens, form relationships, share what we do, and gain valuable feedback.  This year for Salem, on August 2nd at the Common, we will co-sponsor our first National Night Out in partnership with Target and other local businesses to promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity.  
In April of this year, one of our Officer’s was nearly shot with the bullet passing his head in close proximity.  The officer did not draw his weapon and return fire, but pursued the suspect on foot.  I think that shows great restraint in an extremely life-threating situation.  This action and the substantial amount of training and oversight of our officers should provide the citizens of Salem with some confidence that this is a professional organization.
     The Salem Police Department, in cooperation with the City’s No Place For Hate Committee has developed and initiated the first state required Diversity Awareness program for court involved individuals who have committed hate crimes, civil rights crimes, or bias-based crimes.  This has been a three year process and it is now being looked at to provide this at the Juvenile Court level and to be developed even further into a bullying response program for our Schools in cooperation with the Superintendent.  
Decisions that affect our entire community will not just be made by the Police Department, or a few individuals, it will be a collective community response.  We may not always get things right, but we certainly strive to achieve this and the input and feedback of the community is an important component.
     The Salem Police Department have concerns about the police actions in other states that are negatively affecting their citizenry and a deep heartfelt concern for all those in Dallas who were peacefully protesting, who were placed in overwhelming fear due to the actions of a few, and those officers who were there to ensure their safety.  A select group of persons brought those problems to the community of Dallas. Our prayers go out to all the people, citizens and officers alike, who have lost their lives in these tragic incidents.  Families have lost fathers, brothers, sons – loved ones.  As a Police Department we recognize the importance of all lives, and especially those who have been or feel victimized.  We strive for peace in our community and elsewhere in our Nation.  Ronald Reagan said, “Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means”.   Pope Paul VI said, “If you want peace, work for justice”.  This justice does not mean an eye for an eye, because violence only begets more violence.  It really means that fairness is the standard to be administered, both legally and philosophically every day, everytime.  Working together we can achieve this.
    To all those who work hard to make Salem a great community, government leaders, residents, and businesses, thank you.  For all the officers and dispatchers who strive to ensure we have a safe and peaceful community, thank you.
                         Mary E. Butler
                        Chief of Police

July 4th 2016 Event Information

As you prepare your plans to visit Salem for the 4th of July, we encourage you to keep the following information in mind.

 

Activity Information

 

• Fireworks and 4th of July activities will take place on Derby Wharf (160 Derby Street).
• Kid's Space opens at 4:00 pm with games and face painting. Food vendors will also open at 4:00 pm.
• Live entertainment begins on the stage at 5:00 pm.
• Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:15 pm with Mayor Kim Driscoll, other local dignitaries, and local organizations leading a short parade through the Wharf and a military flyover. The Hillyer Festival Orchestra will then begin a two hour long concert.
• The night will end with a fireworks display over Derby Wharf beginning at 9:15 pm.
• Check out the detailed press release on Salem.com for more information.

 

Public Safety

 

• Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts, possession or sale of fireworks will result in the maximum fines possible. Call us at 978-744-1212 to report illegal firework activity. We will have extra patrols dedicated to responding to these calls on the 4th. Whenever possible please provide us with the exact address the fireworks are coming from so our officers can respond in the most effective way possible. Do not dial 9-1-1 for fireworks complaints, please use our non-emergency request for police line at 978-744-1212.
• As always public drinking and disorderly conduct will not be tolerated and will result in being subject to arrest.
• Report any suspicious activity such as unattended bags, suspicious vehicles, or concerning individuals to the Salem Police right away at 978-744-1212, by dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency, or to any officer you see.
• Remember there will be large crowds and it will be dark out. Pay extra attention to small children, and consider attaching your contact information and their name to their clothes in case you get separated. Pre-plan a meeting place and time with older children in the event they get separated. If your child goes missing do not wait, notify a police officer immediately or dial 9-1-1. Instruct children to stop and stay where they are if they become lost and to notify a police officer.
• Use sidewalks and crosswalks when coming and going from the event. Wear bright colored clothing and consider carrying a flash light. Make sure to follow any directions from officers directing traffic.
• Guests are asked to carry any items in clear plastic bags and be prepared for possible bag checks by uniformed officers. Police will be monitoring access points into the Derby Wharf area throughout the afternoon and evening. Please plan for additional time to arrive at the wharf for the festivities.

 

Transportation and Road Closures

 

• Parking will be limited. The South Harbor Garage (10 Congress Street), Museum Place Garage (2 New Liberty Street) and the Salem Depot Garage (242 Bridge Street) will be available. We do anticipate all three to fill up quickly. Additional overflow parking will be available at Shetland Park (35 Congress Street).
• If possible we encourage you to consider walking or biking to avoid congestion on the roads. There will be heavy traffic before and after the event.
• Consider using the MBTA Commuter Rail if you are coming from out of town. The Salem Depot is a short walk from Derby Wharf. Additional parking garages are available at the Lynn and Beverly train stations. See this page on the MBTA's site for more information.
• There is limited handicap parking at Derby Wharf and in the Immaculate Conception parking lot on Hawthorne Boulevard, which is first-come first-serve, and there is a mobility impaired/wheelchair seating section reserved at the beginning of Derby Wharf.
• Recreational boaters and other craft will be restricted from the area around Derby Wharf and the channel in Salem Harbor and the South River for much of the evening. Mariners can call the Harbormaster’s Office at 978-741-0098 or on VHF 16 for emergencies after hours or for more information.
• At 6:00 pm we will be closing Derby Street at Herbert Street, Orange Street at Essex Street, and Curtis Street at Essex Street. We will also be posting those areas a "No Parking Tow Zones" from 8:00 am until 11:00 pm. We may close additional streets during the night as needed to ensure public safety.

We suggest you follow our social media accounts on Facebook and on Twitter for up to date information as the night goes along. Be sure to check back here and to salem.com prior to leaving in case there are any last minute changes that are made.

Public notice of BJA JAG Application

The Salem, Mass Police Department has applied for a FY 2015 JAG grant. We have requested monies to create a law enforcement program that will work within the recommendations set forth by President Obama’s Task Force on 21^st Century Policing. Our goal is to strengthen ties to the Salem Community by responding to and working with citizens in their neighborhoods. We aim to improve quality of life by building trust and nurturing legitimacy on both sides of the police. Any Citizen who wishes to review or comment on the document may contact Captain Kate Stephens at kstephens@salempd.net.

Upcoming Traffic Events Impacting Traffic

In the coming days the following events are expected to impact traffic in Salem. Please consider them and add time to your travel plans or seek alternative routes:

• June 21 to June 27 - Emergency Sewer Work: Emergency sewer work is being completed in the intersection of Canal Street and Jefferson Avenue. During the time of the work there will be lane closures in the intersection. Work will be undertaken from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm daily.
• Saturday June 25 - North Shore Pride Parade: The North Shore Pride Parade will depart from Riley Plaza at 12:00 noon time on Saturday and travel down New Derby Street, Derby Street, and Hawthorne Boulevard to the Salem Common. During the parade roads along the route will be closed to vehicle traffic. After the parade there will be a festival on Salem Common. Riley Plaza will be closed at 8:00 am on Saturday and all vehicles must be removed from the lot. Additional no parking zones will be in place from 8:00 am until 12:00 noontime along Margin Street between Endicott and Norman Streets as well as along Washington Square South and East.

• Sunday June 26 - North Shore Medical Center Cancer Walk: The annual NSMC Cancer Walk begins at the Salem Willows at 8:30 am on Sunday. The walk goes down Essex Street, around the North side of the Salem Common and back onto Essex Street, to Lafayette Street, down Forest Avenue to the Salem State University O'Keefe Center, back along Lafayette Street, and finally up Derby Street to the Willows. Roads along the route will be closed to traffic with the exception of residents during the walk. Expect traffic impacts along the route during the walk and for the majority of the day in the area of the Salem Willows.

As always follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates as these events progress.

A Letter From Chief Butler

A letter in response to the recent Globe article and WBZ new report:

The Point Neighborhood is a culturally diverse neighborhood and since the turn of the early 1900's has been a gateway neighborhood for new immigrants, initially a large French population who worked at the factories in the Shetland Park area. This has changed in the mid 70's to an increasing Latino population and continues to be predominantly populated by a large Latino community and others with a below median income.  There are a number of new immigrants where there are language barriers. Since mid-summer last year there have been a few concerning incidents including a shooting in the middle of the street with no one injured, a shooting which targeted someone, but no injury, and a shooting that resulted in a fatality a couple months ago.  These have all occurred on or near Salem Street which is not in the block of the complainant.  Then there was a shooting incident in another neighborhood adjacent to The Point Neighborhood, which narrowly missed one of the officers when they attempted to arrest this person on warrants.  Salem Police obtained a search warrant and arrested 3 persons on drug dealing and retrieved the gun believed to be involved in the first shooting.  They responded to a call for service and recovered another gun and charged someone believed to be involved in the second incident. They identified and arrested the suspect in the fatal shooting and the arrested the suspect in the officer near miss shooting and recovered that weapon. What all had in common was a link to a group involved in drug dealing by parties who recently relocated to Salem from the Boston area. SPD has been chipping away at this group with arrests for the last year and issuing the landlord a disorderly house order because all these incidents stem from one house in The Point Neighborhood not contiguous to the Globe article address. Now is there still some drug dealing, of course. It would be rather ignorant of the Police Department to think there is no more going on. In fact we arrested 2 people from Norwood who were selling a large quantity of drugs in our City to a NH man less than a week ago when officers observed the suspicious activity.  The Point Neighborhood Association folks are working with the PD to stop the relocated group from drug dealing as well as other local ones.  To characterize this area as crime-ridden is a mistake and not accurate. This is a small congested neighborhood of multiple family dwellings and not a lot of yards or open space.  As a result of these prior incidents, we have increased our police response to address this group who are running amuck on this neighborhood. We have devoted over 45 hours of surveillance to this property on the days and times the complainant has advised that these incidents have items being tossed from a window.  Naturally we can assume this seems like drug activity but we have only observed a key thrown out a window to someone below during our surveillance. Rules of evidence will not allow us to just arrest someone on an unidentified item - we need proof of illegal substance to go along with this activity, which is why we are conducting surveillance.  Our patrols generally increase in the warmer weather to include directed patrols, walking or bike patrols because more people are out and we have increased tourism. The PD, City, PNA, and other local organizations do a lot of work in the neighborhood including assisting with a summer lunch program, the On Point program dealing with troubled youth, a July 4th cookout for the Neighborhood and community service and a Point Neighborhood initiative to address Opioid Awareness . With the large congested population there are certainly calls for service on quality of life issues and some crime but I do not believe statistics would support that this is the only neighborhood with problems in the City. The City has a Point Neighborhood Action Plan that is working with the North Shore CDC, and other businesses and civic organizations to improve housing and economic situation here; and they are doing a great job at improving the quality of life for many. Narrative that portrays this neighborhood in such a negative light does not aid in improvements with development nor does it help with our relationship with the community and I will not engage in undermining these improvements.  The Salem Police Department has been attentive to complaints from this couple.  While a quick fix might be the expected goal, as a Police organization, we endeavor into proper and legal police practices to respond to crimes and to appropriately charge individuals.

 

The Salem Police responds to calls of fights, disturbances, damaged vehicles, loud music, graffiti and drug activity all over the City.  These are not things that only occur in The Point Neighborhood.   Thank you, Chief Mary Butler

180 Years of Policing

Today marks the 180th anniversary of the organization of the Salem Police Department. On May 12, 1836 the Salem City Council passed a City Ordinance requiring a Marshall (now known as Chief) be appointed who would be responsible for organizing the police department. This act came only 50 days after the City was officially incorporated.

We can trace the roots of law enforcement in Salem back to constables the 1600's, and because of this ordinance the Salem Police Department is easily one of the oldest professional municipal police departments in the country.

A lot has changed in the city over the last 180 years and the department has evolved with the City. We are proud of our history, of our service, and of the support we receive from our community.

In the coming weeks and months we will be posting a series of photographs, special events, and videos in celebration of this milestone so make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Rabies Clinic

The Salem Police in conjunction with the Veterinary Association of the North Shore will be holding a Rabies Clinic.

Where: Salem Police Headquarters - 95 Margin Street

When: Wednesday, May 4, 2016 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Cats and dogs 12 weeks or older. Fee is $10.00 per animal (cash or personal check only). 3 year vaccinations are available if a pervious years certificate is presented.

Rain or shine.

Contact ACO Don Famico at 978-744-0717 extension 121 or by email at dfamico@salempd.net with questions.

Administrative Professionals Day

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 is Administrative Professionals Day. 

The Salem Police Department would like to take the opportunity to celebrate, honor, and thank our incredible administrative staff for all they do every day mostly without recognition.   

So today, we want to recognize you all for your great contribution, all your work, and all the efforts you undertake to support the Salem Police Department and our mission in the community. 

We want to express our since appreciation for the Chief’s Administrative Assistant, Ms. Sharyn Lubas who we celebrate for all her keen insights, unending research, coordination, budget management, invaluable feedback, and especially for trying to keep the Chief timely for meetings, correspondences, and “on task”!  

Administrative Assistant, Ms. Jayne Connors who we celebrate for her great work us keeping us up to date on our bills, managing the personnel files and providing a much needed and good sense of humor. 

Executive Secretary, Ms. Linda Raymond who we celebrate for arduously attempting to reconcile the convoluted weekly payroll, which is no small undertaking and for accepting multiple projects simultaneously.  

Principal Clerk, Ms. Donna Patterson who we celebrate for somehow making sense of the reams of paperwork and files that land in the Records Office every day. 

Clerk, Mr. Fred Greener who we celebrate for his unparalleled talent and skill at reconciling the grants and details every month, and our very special Jr. Clerk, Ms. Sally Landers who painstakingly enters all the motor vehicle citations and must have acquired the unique skill of reading hieroglyphics.  

To each one of our Administrative Professionals at the Salem Police Department, we thank you for all that you do each day to help this Department look great!   

 

Salem Police Arrest Jeremiah Wooden

Today at approximately 3:15 pm, Jeremiah F. Wooden, the suspect in the attempted murder of a Salem Police Officer on Thursday night, April 14th, was arrested, without incident, on Park Street in Lynn by Salem Police Detectives, Lynn Police Officers, and the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit. The arrest of Wooden occurred after Detectives and MSP followed several leads to Lynn.

After being booked at the Salem Police Headquarters, he was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility pending arraignment in Salem District Court on Tuesday, April 19th for the following charges:

• Armed Assault with intent to Murder
• Assault and Battery on a Police Officer
• Attempted Assault and Battery with a Firearm
• Possession of a Firearm during a Felony
• Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling
• Disorderly Conduct
• Resisting Arrest
• Operating after License suspended, subsequent offense
• Assault by Dangerous Weapon

"This is another outstanding effort by our police department working together with the Mass State Police, Boston Police, Malden Police, Lynn Police, and Salem State University Police, who used tremendous skills and experience in tracking down the suspect. Valuable information from our community, once again, provided us the opportunity to remove now two violent criminals from our City streets", stated Chief Mary Butler.

Salem Police Announce Accreditation Review

Chief Mary Butler is pleased to announce that a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday May 3rd, to begin examining various aspects of the Salem Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities. 

Verification by the Assessment Team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain and maintain State Accreditation -- a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession.

The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards.  In order to achieve accreditation status, the Department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 75% of the optional standards. 

Achieving Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.  Anyone interested in learning more about this program is invited to call Captain Kate Stephens, Accreditation Manager.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Salem Police Department Applauds the Constant Efforts of our 9-1-1 Dispatchers

As we celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 10—16, 2016, we recognize the incredible work of these particularly important employees who perform such a critical role in our team of first responders. They are often the first person in the public safety team that individuals connect to when calling the Police Department or calling 9-1-1. They are often the voice during an emergency that tries to calm a caller in order to obtain critical information for police officers to effectively respond to that persons call for help. The information they obtain during a call is one of the best tools needed to prepare police officers or firefighters in responding to emergencies. We applaud their tireless efforts, their calm approach, their guidance in determining the problem, their relentless efforts to find all the information necessary and essential to providing assistance, and for doing this in an extremely professional manner in service to the Police Department and to the residents of the City of Salem, and all who visit our fine City.

Melissa Saraiva has been a Salem 9-1-1 Dispatcher since October 2010 and is frequently heard as the voice during the day shift. Growing up in a law enforcement family and having a good business sense, she provides our team with a coordinated effort of service and response.

Keegan Stokes has been a Salem 9-1-1 Dispatcher since December 2010 and he is one of the voices during the night shift. With his experience in law enforcement and with NEMLEC IMT he relentlessly finds information for our responding officers.

Michael Griffin has been a Salem 9-1-1 Dispatcher since January 2011 and he is another of the voices during the night shift. Having served as a Dispatcher with NEMLEC IMT during the Boston Marathon Bombings, he tenaciously tracks information and callers for responding officer.

Charles McKenna has been a Salem 9-1-1 Dispatcher since February of 2013 and is our second voice of day shift dispatching. His mature and pleasant demeanor provides a sense of calmness to any emergency.

Michael Prosniewski has been a Salem 9-1-1 Dispatcher since September of 2015, our newest voice on the police radio night shift. With extensive experience in emergency medical service he provides valuable information as rapidly as the calls come in.

It is with great pride we recognize our dispatchers and publicly thank them for their constant service and commitment to the safety of our community.

Records Hours Change

On Monday, April 11, 2015 the Records Division will be changing to the following hours:

Monday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Light It Up Blue for Autism

On Saturday, April 2, 2016 the City of Salem will be participating in Light It Up Blue for World Autism Awareness Day by activating the blue snow emergency lights across the city. Residents are advised there is no snow emergency in effect.

To learn more see this page on Salem.com.

Snow Emergency 3/20/2016

 The City of Salem has declared a Snow Emergency effective Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 9:00 pm until Monday, March 21, 2016 at 10:00 am.

All vehicles must be removed from the streets; failure to do so may result in ticketing and towing. For a list of approved public off street parking sites and streets included in the downtown emergency snow district please visit the City's Snow Emergency Central or call our Snow Emergency Hotline at 978-744-0171 extension 166.

School has been canceled for Monday, March 21st. Vehicles can remain in the school lots overnight, but will need to be removed promptly following the ban being lifted to allow for clean up of the school lots.

If your vehicle has been towed, please contact us at 978-744-1212 for information.

To report a power outage or check the status of an outage contact National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 or visit their storm page here. Do not call 9-1-1 to report a power outage unless there is a life threatening emergency.

For inquiries related to snow removal or plowing please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-744-3302. If there is no answer please leave a message and your issue will be address as soon as possible. You may also request services from the DPW through the SeeClickFix app online or on your phone. Visit this informational page for more information.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalemMAPolice and on Twitter @SalemMAPolice for updates as the storm progresses.

(Updated 3/20/16 20:00 hours)

Spring Citizen's Police Academy

The Salem Police Department will be holding a Citizen's Police Academy starting March 30, 2016.

Applications are due by March 16, 2016.

Click here to download the application.

SPD Officer Places Top In Class

On Thursday, February 11, 2016 Salem Police Reserve Officer Kristina Monk graduated from the Reading Police Academy. Reserve Officer Monk finished the academy in the top of her class for defensive tactics. Please join us in saying congratulations to Officer Monk, we look forward to her joining the ranks of the Salem Police soon.

Chief Butler Reads to Kindergartners

On January 29, 2016 Chief Mary Butler visited the Kindergarten class at the Witchcraft Heights School and read to them from Sneezy the Snowman. The class had some great questions for the Chief, and they each got to try on her hat!

Snow Emergency 2/8/2016

The City of Salem has declared a Snow Emergency effective Monday, February 8, 2016 at 9:00 am until 8:30 pm.

Parking will be allowed in the downtown emergency district until 12:00 noon.

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Update February 8, 2016 4:40 pm:
The snow emergency will be lifted at 8:30 pm. It is important that all cars be removed from all school lots promptly following the snow ban being lifted. Crews need to clear the lots for school tomorrow. Please keep cars off the streets until 8:30 to allow crews to finish city streets. We are actively enforcing the parking ban at this time.

Again, if your vehicle is in a school lot after 8:30 p.m. you will be ticketed and subject to towing.

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All vehicles must be removed from the streets; failure to do so may result in ticketing and towing. For a list of approved public off street parking sites and streets included in the downtown emergency snow district please visit the City's Snow Emergency Central or call our Snow Emergency Hotline at 978-744-0171 extension 166.

If your vehicle has been towed, please contact us at 978-744-1212 for information.

To report a power outage or check the status of an outage contact National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 or visit their storm page here. Do not call 9-1-1 to report a power outage unless there is a life threatening emergency.

For inquiries related to snow removal or plowing please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-744-3302. If there is no answer please leave a message and your issue will be address as soon as possible. You may also request services from the DPW through the SeeClickFix app online or on your phone. Visit this informational page for more information.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalemMAPolice and on Twitter @SalemMAPolice for updates as the storm progresses.

Snow Emergency 2/5/2016

The City of Salem has declared a Snow Emergency effective Friday, February 7, 2016 at 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.

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Update 2/7/16 6:00 pm:
The snow emergency parking ban will be lifted as of 7:00 pm. Please remove vehicles from school lots as soon as possible.

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All vehicles must be removed from the streets; failure to do so may result in ticketing and towing. For a list of approved public off street parking sites please visit the City's Snow Emergency Central or call our Snow Emergency Hotline at 978-744-0171 extension 166.

If your vehicle has been towed, please contact us at 978-744-1212 for information.

To report a power outage or check the status of an outage contact National Grid at 1-800-465-1212 or visit their storm page here. Do not call 9-1-1 to report a power outage unless there is a life threatening emergency.

For inquiries related to snow removal or plowing please contact the Department of Public Works at 978-744-3302. If there is no answer please leave a message and your issue will be address as soon as possible. You may also request services from the DPW through the SeeClickFix app online or on your phone. Visit this informational page for more information.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SalemMAPolice and on Twitter @SalemMAPolice for updates as the storm progresses.

Salem Police Department Awarded Grant to Combat Underage Drinking

The Salem Police Department was recently awarded a $9,900 grant to combat underage drinking.  The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is providing $505,000 in funding to 71 Massachusetts communities on a competitive basis with awards ranging from $4,200 to $15,000.

“This much needed funding helps us target the problem of underage drinking on all fronts,” said Captain Kate Stephens. “Whether you are underage, plan to sell to a minor, or buy alcohol for a minor, this funding promotes our effort to diligently enforce the laws against underage drinking.” 

Funds support compliance checks for minors in bars, restaurants and retail locations; reverse stings and “Cops in Shops” programs; “shoulder tap” solicitations; surveillance patrols; and party patrols.  Through a combination of these techniques, departments analyze and crack down on minors who seek to circumvent the law and people and businesses that enable them.

“Teens and parents need to be reminded that underage drinking is not a game. It’s deadly serious,” said Captain Stephens. “Parents need to know that hosting a party where alcohol is served to minors is illegal and extremely dangerous for young people and the entire community. Parents should also know they will face all legal liabilities. Our City faces an additional challenge given the fact that a large percentage of Salem State University is under the age of 21. As in years past we will concentrate heavily on those areas adjacent to Salem State University”

With the upcoming Prom season in mind we will increase our efforts to reduce the opportunities for underage alcohol consumption.  The Salem Police Department, in partnership with EOPSS/HSD and NHTSA recognizes that traffic crashes are preventable and is committed to using this grant to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries in  because any loss of life or injury on our roadways is one too many” said Captain Stephens.

Training Notice

This Wednesday, February 3, 2016 the Salem Police along with agencies from NEMLEC will be training at the former Spaulding North Shore building on the Salem Hospital campus. There will be a large number of officers and vehicles from agencies across the region attending the training. This is planned, routine training and there is no threat to the public or need for alarm. We will post reminders on our Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as on sign boards in the area of the hospital.

2016 Snow Emergency Brochure

The City of Salem has released the 2016 Snow Emergency Brochure. There have been some changes from previous years, most notable the city has created a "Downtown Snow Emergency District". In this area of Downtown snow emergencies will not go into effect until midnight of the night they are declared to minimize impact on local businesses. 

Please review the brochure and pre-plan for winter storms. Identify nearby off street parking locations and gather permits if you need them. Plan for alternate transportation if you work an essential job and rely on public transit. Sign up for the Code Red Notification system if you have already to have information about snow emergencies sent to your cell phone or email. Save the following numbers in your phone in the event of an issue during a snow storm:

• Salem Department of Public Service (for all snow removal, plowing, or road hazards. If there is no answer leave a message and the issue will addressed as soon as possible.): 978-744-3302
• Salem Fire Department: 978-744-1235
• Salem Police Department: 978-744-1212 or 978-744-0171
• National Grid Electric: 1-800-465-1212
• National Grid Gas: 1-800-732-3400
• All Emergencies - 9-1-1

Please direct your call to the appropriate agency or organization for the most prompt service. During storms all city departments see an increase in calls for service and we ask for your patience and understanding. Do not call 9-1-1 for information, complaints, or concerns please reserve the lines for true emergencies.

We will make every effort to keep you informed this winter. Vital information during snow emergencies will be posted regularly here, on our Facebook page, and on our Twitter account. Please check them regularly as the winter proceeds and follow our accounts if you have not done so.

We've had a great winter so far, hopefully this post didn't jinx us!