SALEM, Ore. — Public safety and downtown revitalization took center stage this morning as city and county leaders, law enforcement, and business representatives gathered to discuss crime, homelessness, and the allocation of limited resources in Salem’s core.
District Attorney Paige Clarkson underscored the need for a targeted approach, noting that recent studies show concentrated “hot people and hot places” driving much of the city’s violence. Clarkson announced a dedicated prosecutor for downtown Salem, tasked with working closely with law enforcement. She stressed that accountability measures must be evaluated carefully, weighing whether “the juice is worth the squeeze” when prosecuting certain crimes.
Police Chief Trevor Womack outlined immediate, near-term, and long-term strategies for addressing crime and safety downtown. In the short run, he said the department has boosted its presence in downtown and northeast Salem through overtime patrols. He emphasized that these overtime assignments are separate from the city’s two-person Homeless Services Team (HST), which specializes in de-escalation and connecting people with social services rather than defaulting to arrests…