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Police chief: crime flat overall but budget rises for contracts, staffing and event policing
Summary
Police Chief briefed committee May 20 that overall crime remained flat while violent crime fell; the FY26 police budget rises mainly because of contract obligations, staffing plans and increased event policing costs for haunted happenings and other large events.
The Police Department presented its FY26 budget to the Committee on Administration and Finance on May 20, 2025, citing contractual increases, recruitment progress and new operating costs tied to large public events.
Police Chief Miller told the committee “Overall crime is pretty flat in Salem. Violent crime is down significantly, but petty crime is up significantly.” He said the department currently lists 91 officers including the chief, with two in the police academy and one pending; the city ordinance target is 95 sworn officers. The FY26 budget includes funding for three recruits to allow for anticipated departures.
Personnel costs account for roughly 92.5 percent of the department budget, the chief said. He highlighted negotiated contract increases and new educational incentives that provide pay for degree attainment. The department also converted a previously grant‑funded domestic‑violence outreach position into a city‑funded role after grant funding ended.
Operational changes for large events were a central focus. The budget increases overtime lines for “haunted happenings” and other holiday events to reflect larger crowds and expanded security needs; the chief said the department will continue to use mutual aid and state police support where appropriate but prefers “Salem Police Officers in the crowds and on the ground.” The department is planning more fixed and mobile measures to secure pedestrian zones, including mobile speaker stations and longer‑term discussion of retractable bollards managed by the engineering department.
The chief reviewed technology and program items: a body‑worn camera program (one camera per officer), an expanded drone pilot roster, a Milo tactical simulator purchased with a grant, ongoing social‑media archiving for public records compliance, and plate‑reader technology. Finance staff noted a duplicate $26,000 plate‑reader entry in CIP and in the department technology line that will be corrected before appropriation.
Councillors asked about crossing guards, school resource officers (three officers assigned to schools), traffic enforcement grant reporting and canine program funding; the chief said crossing‑guard hiring remains difficult and the canine program is largely supported by outside donations but retains some city costs. Councillor Stott moved approval of the police personnel ($13,510,043) and expenditures ($1,082,574) for a total department recommendation of $14,592,617; the committee approved it by roll call.
