Salem City Police Department

Mission Statement

Our Mission

The Mission of the Salem Police Department is to work with all citizens of the community to preserve life, human rights, and dignity; protect property, foster individual responsibility and community commitment; thereby maintaining and enhancing Salem’s status as the City of Peace.

Our Vision

We envision a community where children are free to live and learn in an environment which promotes their safety and development; where being limited by crime or disorder; a community where citizens can enjoy their senior years in peace, security, and harmony.

Messages from the Chief

As your Chief of Police, I have noticed the increasing dangers of riders on E-Bikes and E-Scooters in the community.  Citizens have reported accidents or close calls involving both with motor vehicles.  Young citizens riding E-Bikes and Scooters have shown little regard for their safety and the dangers of careless maneuvering while on these types of apparatus on our roadways.

As parents, we must instill the potential dangers to our children and grandchildren when using E-Bikes and E-Scooters on our roadways.  We need to teach them their responsibilities of obeying, the laws related to both on the roadways and, other traffic- related laws.  Parents must insist on their children wearing helmets. Helmets are a child’s best friend when preventing injury from these motorized devices.

Scooters can travel as fast as 15-20 mph, so if your child falls off, they will get hurt – most commonly with cuts, head injuries, and fractures. In fact, injuries have become so common that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 16 don’t ride these types of scooters because of the risk of serious injury.

Utah has several laws for motor-assisted scooters, including age restrictions, where they can be operated, and how they should be operated: 

•          Age

Riders under 15 must be directly supervised by a parent or guardian, and riders under 8 cannot operate a scooter with the motor running on public property. 

•          Location

Scooters cannot be operated in public parking structures, on public property where skateboards are prohibited, or on highways with a speed limit of over 25 miles per hour. They also cannot be operated on roadways if they have been structurally or mechanically altered from the original manufacturer's design, or if they are carrying more people than they are designed for. 

•          Operation

When riding on the roadway, scooter riders must follow the same laws that apply to cars and motorcycles. Scooters must have a white front light and a rear red light or reflector, and riders cannot exceed 15 miles per hour. Scooters are exempt from motor vehicle requirements like licensing and registration and are considered nonmotorized vehicles when the motor is off. 

E-scooters can be fun to ride, and with preparation and insistence on safety measures, children in the community can enjoy many hours of fun on them!

E BIKE INFORMATION

Chief Brad S. James

Salem City Police Department

The Salem Police Department is deeply committed to serving our community. This includes protecting lives and property, upholding the Constitution, and fostering a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

Beyond immediate safety, we recognize the importance of mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling, you're not alone. Facing challenges is a normal part of life, but seeking support is a sign of strength. That's why we encourage you to connect with qualified professionals. Whether you're experiencing mental health concerns, parenting difficulties, or simply need someone to talk to, there are local and national resources available. Here are some ways to find help:

•    National Crisis Line: Call or text 988     

•    Online Resources: Visit the 988 Lifeline website

      (https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/)     

•    Mental Health Providers: Explore resources through your doctor or insurance company.

Together, let's create a supportive and healthy Salem community.

Chief Brad S. James

Salem City Police Department

Top Crimes of Summer
In a survey of six police departments in Utah, KSL investigators determined which crimes are most likely to affect residents this summer and the best tips to protect residents from becoming victims. The problems are the same crimes that the Salem City Police Department encounters.  Below is a list of the crimes and ways to protect yourself from being a victim.

Top Summer Crimes

• Home burglaries
• Garage burglaries
• Car break-ins
• Auto theft
• Property crimes

 Other Crimes

• Beer thefts from retail outlets
• Graffiti
• Drug transactions
• Juvenile alcohol offenses
• Vandalism
• Curfew violations
• Speeding and aggressive driving
• Assaults

Prevention Tips

       Home

• Install safety lighting around your yard and front door

• Keep your garage door closed, even if you are in the backyard
• Trim bushes and trees around windows so burglars can’t hide
• Don’t leave valuables, such as bicycles or electronic devices, in your yard
• Secure shed

       Vehicle

• Lock doors and roll up windows
• Remove belongings
• Don’t leave loose change in plain sight
• When shopping, store items in the trunk
• Park in well-lit areas at night

Drowsy driving is a major problem in the United States. AAA reports 1 in 10 car crashes are caused by Drowsy Driving. The risk, danger, and often tragic results of drowsy driving are alarming. Drowsy driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. This usually happens when a driver has not slept enough, but it can also happen due to untreated sleep disorders, medications, drinking alcohol, or shift work.

Senior Citizen, “BEWARE”
Here is a guide Common Elderly Scams for our Senior Community. It includes the common fraud tactics and popular scams used on seniors. We hope you find this guide helpful.

The Salem City Police Department has recently noted a spike in Senior Citizens in the community becoming victims to a number of frauds or scams. Please do not give out any of your personal information to anyone that you do not know personally and trust completely. Even if you know the person and trust them please be cautious. Even nice people that you know and trust can make you a victim. Examples of recent Scams:

“IRS Calling” - Someone calling as an IRS representative asking for personal information. The IRS will never ask you for your personal information either via telephone or email. Always hang up on such a caller immediately and do not respond to the email.

“Grandparent Scam” - Fake grandchild will usually ask for money to solve some unexpected financial problem (overdue rent, payment for car repairs, bail money to get out of jail etc.), to be paid via Western Union or MoneyGram. Do not fall for this.

“Sweep Stakes or Lottery Winner” – Someone calls or sends you mail correspondence that you are a winner then tells you have to send or wire money to unlock your sweep stakes or lottery winnings. Never ever send money! You worked hard for the money you have and it’s totally a scam and money you will never see again.

“Email/Phishing Scams” - A senior receives email messages that appear to be from a legitimate company or institution, asking them to “update” or “verify” their personal information. A senior receives emails that appear to be from the IRS about a tax refund.

“Charity Scams” -Money is solicited for fake charities. This often occurs after natural disasters.

“The Fake Accident Ploy”-The con artist gets the victim to wire or send money on the pretext that the person’s child or another relative is in the hospital and needs the money.

“The Pigeon Drop”-The con artist tells the individual that he/she has found a large sum of money and is willing to split it if the person will make a “good faith” payment by withdrawing funds from his/her bank account. Often, a second con artist is involved, posing as a lawyer, banker, or some other trustworthy stranger.

“Warrant Scam”- Mr. or Mrs. Smith will receive a call from someone identifying themselves as from the local Sheriff’s department. The caller will tell Mr. Smith that he has a warrant for his arrest and will have to go to jail unless the bail is paid. Instructions are then provided by the caller to obtain a Green Dot card loaded in the amount of the bail for the warrant. After Mr. Smith does this he is to call a certain number and provide the Green Dot card information to the phony Sheriff’s Deputy. The scammer will then deplete the funds from the Green Dot card.  
There is far too many other scams to mention – BE CAUTIOUS AND FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE SALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (801) 423-2312 IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR DOUBTS. REMEMBER IT IS YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY.

We can all do our part by making Salem an even better and safer community.  By simply locking your doors on your homes and cars, taking any property of value and securing it, can go a long way in reducing crime in the community.   Watching out for your neighbors and reporting anything that seems or appears suspicious to you immediately to the police department can also reduce crime.  The community belongs to you.  If you want to live in a safe community then do your part by being a partner with your local police department and report things that can assist in detouring or solving crimes.  By working together we can go from a safe community to one of the safest in the State of Utah.

www.staysafe.org/starting-and-growing-a-neighborhood-watch