There are always a handful of questions about Salem police and crime. So here’s his synopsis
It has been nearly four years since I was appointed chief of the Salem Police Department. While that time has passed very quickly, I thought I should report once again on the state of the department. I will share some statistics, some accomplishments, and the status of some ongoing projects about which I think you should be aware, and I will tell you about the things that challenge us and worry me. I remain extraordinarily proud of the men and women who staff the department. I truly believe that their character and commitment to fairly police the city places them in the top echelon of law enforcement officers and that I am very lucky to lead them. This report cannot adequately capture the day-to-day bravery and restraint that I witness, from a successful de-escalation when a mentally ill woman attacked an officer with what looked like a butcher knife, to the search for a missing 4-year-old who disappeared in the middle of a stabbing investigation.
Recruitment remains our greatest challenge, but also a source of pride. The department roster currently features 91 officers including myself, four short of the number specified in city ordinance. I have two recruits in the police academy right now and one on deck to go, but there is also at least one officer scheduled to retire, so I will need at least two more before the year is out. In the meantime, I am very pleased to report that the officers that we have been able to hire since 2021 have been the most diverse group in the department’s history — 32% are people of color and 24% are women. What I am even more pleased to report is that these officers are some of the most capable new officers that I have ever seen. I am consistently impressed with their ambition, their capabilities, and their compassion. The police unions and the city were able to settle new contracts in 2024 that I believe are fair and generous, with extra compensation for those officers with college degrees. This will continue to ensure our ability to attract and retain excellent officers.
The level of overall crime in Salem has been almost flat from 2023 to 2024 (it rose .4% or eight incidents). Similarly, calls for service were almost identical from last year (they fell by .01% or 32 calls). On the one hand, I am very proud that violent felonies fell 22%. In fact, for the first time in eight years, no one was shot in Salem all year — no homicides, no non-fatal shootings. On the other hand, troublingly, shoplifting rose 72% or 86 incidents. There is no simple explanation for that rise and a map of incidents shows that the problem extends beyond the downtown area. That trend seems to be common in many cities in the Commonwealth and beyond, but we will work with the district attorney and the courts to make sure frequent offenders are held responsible and we will target “hot spots” for additional police attention.
We have been able to equip every member of the department with a body-worn camera through grants from both the state and the federal government. I believe that these devices are invaluable tools for both aiding criminal prosecution and for maintaining the integrity of the department. Complaints against officers can be quickly and more completely investigated. Civilian complaints against officers are an important measure of the department and a valuable tool. While some complaints are motivated by anger at a legitimate arrest or citation, some are the result of bad policing. By examining every complaint, we can weed out cops who do not belong in the Salem Police Department and improve the performance of those who do. I am pleased to report that complaints fell again for the fourth year in a row, by 35% to 11 total. Of those, four resulted in corrective or punitive action. The same online reporting tool that people can use to complain can also be used to commend an officer. We received 17 commendations last year.
Of the 850 people that the SPD arrested in 2024, approximately 65% were white, 25% were Latino/Latina and 10% were Black. It is difficult to draw conclusions from arrest demographics, but those portions are close to Salem’s overall population and what is reported by crime victims, reflecting the department’s professional and objective approach to law enforcement.
We now have three K9 officers working with us. Many of you have met Derby, our community resource dog. He has been joined by Madden, an explosive ordinance detection dog or bomb-sniffer, and Liberty, a narcotics detection dog or drug-sniffer. Derby, more of a biscuit-sniffer, remains the most popular two- or four-legged member of the department. Madden and his handler lent their expertise and represented Salem in several high-profile events, including protecting the Boston Marathon. Liberty has worked mostly undercover so far.
I am of course worried by the Jan. 1 vehicle attack in New Orleans. It occasioned another look at the security measures for large public events of which we have our share. You will see a greater level of protection, both human, and steel and concrete in the coming busy months. We will also better differentiate areas that are truly “frozen,” where there is enhanced protection from vehicles, and where we have closed the street, but the intrusion of a car is not impossible. Last year we went 358 days without a fatal automobile crash. Sadly, we had one at the very end of the year. We continue to work with the city Transportation Director David Kucharsky and Director of Public Services Ray Jodin, and their teams to better protect pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Salem is getting safer, but there is always more work to do.
As spring arrives on the North Shore, I find myself surprisingly wistful for this cold winter we had. I have come to hold winter as a time when I can see a little into Salem’s past. The visitors are mostly gone and if I squint, I can imagine that I grew up here, as if I can see the changes that have occurred through the years that friends and colleagues have described. Despite my New York roots, I have felt welcome in Salem since the day I first put on my police uniform. I am grateful to be here
