Salem Police Academy canceled due to budget shortfall

Salem Police will not hold its Community Police Academy this year due to budget issues. The program, which helps residents understand police work, was set to begin in April but has been canceled for now. The academy started in the mid-1990s and was well-liked by the community. It had a 14-week format that was changed to an eight-week program last October to save costs. The planned classes would have included topics like crime scene investigation and emergency vehicle operations. Angela Hedrick, a police spokesperson, mentioned that the academy is one of the department's longest-lasting community programs. The cancellation is linked to a $13.8 million budget shortfall in the city. Salem Police recently discontinued its behavioral health unit and community action unit to focus on critical patrol staffing. Hedrick emphasized that the academy offered a unique chance for residents to learn from police staff. There are currently no other programs available that provide this type of education to the community. The police department hopes to revive the academy in the next fiscal year, but it is uncertain if that will happen.