Category Public Safety
Marion County deputy shoots, injures man during response to suspected hostage situation
Oregon State Police said two Marion County deputies got into an “altercation” with a man armed with two knives while responding to a 911 call from an east Salem home Tuesday morning.
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New federal data reveals extent of immigration arrests in Oregon, Washington
Marion County saw one of the sharpest increases in federal immigration arrests among Oregon counties in late 2025, according to federal data analyzed by University of Washington researchers.
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Marion County’s top prosecutor opens grand jury review of conditions at state hospital
Paige Clarkson, Marion County’s district attorney, said she’s been increasingly concerned about the Oregon State Hospital’s ability to provide appropriate care for patients who need secure mental health treatment.
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State won’t seek Supreme Court review in DEA agent fatal crash
An earlier judge’s ruling to dismiss a negligent homicide charge against a federal agent in the death of Salem cyclist Marganne Allen will stand. The Oregon Department of Justice announced Friday it wouldn’t appeal the case further.
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Salem police chief to retire in May
Chief Trevor Womack led the Salem Police Department for five years, overseeing a recent drop in shootings and more use of data to guide policing decisions and inform the public.
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City of Salem denies officer at fault for woman’s injuries during 911 call response
After successfully petitioning to move an excessive force lawsuit against a Salem police officer to federal court, the city of Salem is arguing that a responding officer used reasonable force to arrest a woman who was interfering as officers investigated a fight at her home.
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Oregon prisons will cut visitation hours to curb overtime costs, DOC says
Visitors will only be allowed four days per week at the Oregon State Penitentiary, down from the current seven, starting April 1.
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Prestigious international program has city leaders digging deep into public safety
After months of virtual classes, seven representatives from Salem’s government, nonprofits and community will be taking a trip to Harvard to learn how to better collaborate to address public safety issues in Salem, starting with how to define the problem. The trip and program is fully funded by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative.
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COLUMN: Think beyond freeze-dried when planning emergency food
Mark Wardell, the leader of West Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team, explains how to think about storing food for disasters.
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