Salem Reporter has invited a community panel of experts to address the city’s rise in shootings and gun violence.
At the Town Hall on Gun Violence on Feb. 15, you’ll hear from these panelists:
Chief Trevor Womack, Salem Police Department. He became chief in 2020 and commissioned a study in 2023 looking at the city’s rise in shootings. He’ll describe what officers face on the streets. Read more about the Salem Police Department’s gun violence report here and Womack’s plan for a dedicated team responding to shootings here.
Troy Gregg, Marion County Juvenile Department director. Gregg became the county’s juvenile director in 2018 after spending most of his career at the Oregon Youth Authority. He will describe how young people are getting tangled up in violence.
Ken Ramirez, security field coordinator for the Salem-Keizer School District. Ramirez began his school career as a graduation coach supporting Pacific Islander students. He is now part of the district’s security team, working one-on-one with students involved in gangs. Read more about how local schools are responding to violence and how it impacts young people here.
Lynn Takata is chair of Northeast Neighbors. Her neighborhood was a hot spot of shootings several years ago, but violence has since declined. Takata will speak about her efforts to combat violence by engaging neighbors to monitor Englewood Park, remove graffiti and promote local events.
Levi Herrera-Lopez is the executive director of Mano a Mano Family Center and resident of Four Corners, a hot spot of gun violence in the Salem area. He was part of a group of activists in the 1990s who fought racial profiling and advocated for Latino teenagers in Salem schools as the city confronted a surge in gang-related shootings. Read more about Herrera-Lopez and other community leaders who say deeper community engagement is the key to solving violence here.
