The Patrol Division is the largest division within the Police Department, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The division has a primary responsibility is to provide uniformed law enforcement service to the community and is divided into several teams of officers called Platoons, who work a specific duty schedule in specific beats. Each Platoon is commanded by a Police Lieutenant and each is supervised by two Sergeants. Each Platoon also has a FTO, who is charged with the responsibility of training new officers who graduate from the Police Academy. The City is divided into seven Beats. Patrol Officers are assigned a specific Beat during a 1 year assignment. The Patrol Sergeants are responsible for direct field supervision of the officers. In the absence of a Lieutenant, a Sergeant will assume the title of Watch Commander or Shift OIC. The Sergeant's primary mission is to oversee the daily activities of the officers under their direction and to be a resource for training and coordinator of field activities.

Other Elements: K9 Unit

This Division is responsible for several diverse functions that provide staff support to the rest of the Police Department. This division plans and coordinates all major events, maintains State Accreditation, manages Policies & Procedures, coordinates all departmental training, oversees the recruit selection process, and manages certain State & Federal grants.

This division is part of the Support Services Division.

Detectives investigate crimes such as drug sales, fraud, theft, burglaries, sexual assaults, arsons and homicides. Members of the division are also responsible for juvenile issues, Sex Offender Registry, licensing of Door-to-Door Sales and conduct follow-up investigations of reports originating from the Patrol Division. The detectives are also members of the North Shore Drug Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional drug task force of several North Shore communities, as well as a regional Gang and Youth Violence Task Force. Additionally, members of the Division work with and assist other law enforcement agencies to include local police departments, the Massachusetts State Police, the Essex County District Attorney, as well as the FBI, DEA, ATF, ICE and the Secret Service at the federal level. Investigators are also trained in processing crime scenes to include latent fingerprint identification, photography and the identification and collection of evidence to be used in criminal prosecutions.

Other Elements: School Liason Officers

Responsible for several diverse functions that are critical to the daily operations of the Police Department, such as building operations and fleet maintenance.

This division is also responsible for maintaining several diverse services, including but not limited to: Licensing, Courts/Evidence, Public Information, Special Units and our Dive Team. The Salem Police Department is also a member of the NEMLEC, a consortium of 46 law enforcement agencies who provide support and special services for all member communities. The Salem Police Dive Team is the underwater resource for NEMLEC.

Other Elements: Community Impact Unit, Criminal Investigation Division, Records

This unit is part of the Criminal Investigation Division.

This unit is part of the Patrol Division.

This unit is part of the Support Services Division.

This unit is part of the Support Services Division.

Records maintains the department's incident reports and other public records documents compiled by investigating police officers.

Please note that "Tag Day" Permits are issued through the City Clerk's Office and not the Police Department.

Click here for Firearms Licensing Information.

Click here for any other Licensing information.

The following telephone extensions are mostly Voice Mail ONLY.

Business Line: 978-744-0171

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