City leaders outline plan to expand police homeless service team, deploy mental health responders 

City leaders plan to expand a police program dedicated to homeless outreach, increase city cleaning crews and stand up a new fire department program pairing emergency workers with mental health specialists.

Salem city councilors discussed an early vision for both near-term and long-term plans to address issues related to safety and cleanliness downtown and in northeast Salem during a Wednesday evening work session.

The conversation focused on city plans to increase police presence and help…