A safe, clean and healthy Salem update Ward(s): 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8 Councilor(s): All Councilors Neighborhood(s): CANDO, ELNA, NESCA, NOLA, Northgate, SCAN, WSNA Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community, Strong and Diverse Economy, and Welcoming and Livable Community.

The Salem Police Department is providing an update on efforts to address public health and safety concerns related to unmanaged camping, particularly at Wallace Marine Park. This initiative is part of the broader "Safe, Clean, and Healthy Salem" effort.

Background:

• Camping was temporarily allowed in Wallace Marine Park and Cascades Gateway Park during the pandemic due to shelter capacity constraints and COVID-19 risks.
• The city ended park camping allowances in June 2021. Cascades Gateway Park was cleared and restored between August 2021 and July 2022.
• Efforts to mitigate camping in Wallace Marine Park began in 2022, but clearing wooded areas remains challenging.

Current Situation & Strategy:

• The city's goal is to end camping at Wallace Marine Park entirely to comply with city code, address habitability concerns, environmental issues, and ensure park availability for public use.
• The Salem Outreach and Livability Services (SOS) team, funded by the city and including police officers (Homeless Services Team - HST) and sanitation staff, employs outreach, sanitation, and targeted enforcement.
• Since late 2025, HST/SOS staffing increased to provide seven-day-per-week coverage, doubling capacity. One week per month (25% of HST/SOS time) is now dedicated to ending illegal camping at Wallace Marine Park.
• Increased police presence in downtown and northeast Salem has been implemented through overtime assignments since July 2025, based on data and coordinated through Intelligence, Communication and Planning (ICAP) meetings.

Considerations:

• Crime: The department addresses criminal behavior regardless of housing status, but jail lodging is limited for lower-level offenses and in Marion County.
• Civil Commitment: Despite legislative changes, there's a lack of capacity to involuntarily move individuals with severe mental health challenges from streets into secure treatment.
• Substance Use Disorder: Recent Oregon statutes (HB 4002) and pretrial release reforms (SB 48) provide fewer consequences for substance use-related offenses, limiting the ability to mandate treatment through the justice system.