Salem Police unveils 2025–27 strategic plan focused on safety, trust and organizational excellence

Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack presented the department’s 2025–27 strategic plan to council on Oct. 27, framing the three‑year strategy around three priorities: safety, trust and excellence.

Womack said the plan builds on the department’s earlier work, including a community policing assessment and a prior strategic cycle, and reflects progress on recruiting and retention. He reported a significant hiring push over recent years that reduced the department’s vacancy rate from roughly 13 percent to near 5 percent, a change he credited to a redesigned recruitment effort.

Key ongoing and future emphases in the plan include the community violence reduction initiative, renewed traffic‑safety work to reduce fatalities, procedural‑justice training and continuous development of trauma‑informed responses to behavioral‑health crises. Womack said the HST model (Homeless Service Team) and a proposed mental‑health co‑response (CARE) pilot are examples of coordinated, collaborative approaches that tie into the plan’s priorities.

The plan is intended as high‑level guidance and does not cover every department activity; the chief noted the document was produced in‑house and reflects current operational realities without external consulting. Councilors appreciated the presentation and noted recent opportunities for public engagement, including a procedural‑justice training session that drew council participation.

Evidence: Chief Womack’s presentation and council Q&A during the information item.