Salem Police Department

09/05/2026

As summer break winds down, it’s time to shift our focus to traffic safety with the new school year just around the corner.

Today, we want to remind everyone how to recognize the end of a school zone. Each school zone begins with a school zone speed sign and concludes with either an "End School Zone" sign or a sign displaying the regular posted speed limit. For more details, please refer to the attached graphic.

Our dedicated Traffic Team will be out monitoring the roads to help keep everyone safe. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive carefully as students return to school.

09/04/2026

🚨 Shift Commander Report: August 31 – September 3, 2026

Salem, your patrol officers responded to a total of 1,210 calls for service between Monday and Thursday this past week. Wednesday, September 2, was the busiest day, with 329 calls.

During this period, your officers successfully cleared 48 criminal warrants and made 5 DUII arrests through calls for service and proactive police work.

As always, your officers remain committed to responding quickly, investigating thoroughly, reducing crime, and ensuring the safety of our community and roadways. If you or someone you know is interested in a career in law enforcement start the process at joinsalempd.com

🔍 Incident Highlights:

1️⃣ Disturbance / Warrant Arrest – 19th Street NE – Monday
Officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance. During the investigation, officers located a man with a Criminal Arrest Warrant for failing to appear at court. A woman interfered with officers as they attempted to take the man into custody, and both were arrested. Both were lodged at Marion County Jail, the man on his warrant and the woman for Interfering with a Peace Officer and Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree.

2️⃣ DUII Arrest – Marion Street NE – Tuesday
Officers responded to a single-vehicle crash near Marion Street NE and Summer Street NE. The driver was uncooperative and attempted to physically resist officers during the investigation. The woman was arrested and lodged at Marion County Jail on multiple charges including, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, and Resisting Arrest.

3️⃣ Warrant Arrest / Theft – Broadway Street NE – Wednesday
Officers responded to a report of a theft suspect being detained at a business. Officers contacted two men and discovered one had a total of seven Criminal Arrest Warrants, including felony warrants; the other was taken into custody related for Theft in the Third Degree and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. Both were lodged at Marion County Jail.

4️⃣ Attempting to Elude / DUII Arrest – Market Street NE – Thursday
An officer attempted to stop a speeding vehicle near Market Street NE and 17th Street NE, but the driver failed to stop. Officers later located the vehicle and arrested the driver. The man was taken into custody and lodged at Marion County Jail on multiple charges including Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer.

5️⃣ Felony Hit and Run / DUII Arrest – Center Street NE – Thursday
Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash near Center Street NE and Lancaster Drive NE, and a second related hit-and-run was reported near Center Street NE and 17th Street NE involving the same suspect vehicle. Officers were able to identify the driver and took the man into custody. The man was ultimately lodged at Marion County Jail on multiple charges including Assault in the Third Degree, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Felony Hit and Run.

09/04/2026

As summer break winds down, it’s time to shift our focus to traffic safety with the new school year just around the corner.

Today, we want to remind everyone about crosswalks. While crosswalks exist at every intersection, marked or unmarked, signs near schools specifically highlight these crossings to alert drivers to the presence of children. Please see the attached graphic for more information.

Our dedicated Traffic Team will be out monitoring the roads to help keep everyone safe. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive carefully as students return to school.

09/03/2026

As summer break winds down, it’s time to shift our focus to traffic safety with the new school year just around the corner.

Today, we’d like to remind everyone about the important rules regarding school buses. When a bus’s red lights are flashing, you must come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing. For more details, please refer to the attached graphic.

Our dedicated Traffic Team will be out monitoring the roads to help keep everyone safe. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive carefully as students return to school.

09/02/2026

Officer Morse began her career as a dispatcher, motivated by a commitment to serve and assist the community. She upholds the values of honor and integrity inherent in the law enforcement profession and is dedicated to living a life devoted to the service of others. We invite you to consider a career marked by integrity, dedication and a meaningful impact.

09/02/2026

Case Update: Polk County Conviction and Sentencing in 2025 Wallace Marine Park Murder Case

Joseph Andrew Wirkkala, 38, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2025 murder of Jacob Collazo, 62, in Salem’s Wallace Marine Park. Wirkkala must serve a minimum of 32.5 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In addition to Murder in the Second Degree, Wirkkala was found guilty of multiple charges including Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Reckless Endangering, and other charges involving three additional victims.

We extend our sincere thanks to Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton and his staff for their diligent prosecution of this case. We extend condolences to the family of Mr. Collazo for the loss of a loved one.

This case exemplifies the power of teamwork and collaboration among public safety organizations. We also recognize the outstanding work of Salem Patrol officers who initially responded, as well as the Violent Crimes Unit and Felony Crimes Unit detectives who led the ongoing investigation. Additionally, this case would not have been possible without the timely support from the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, Salem Crime Lab, Marion County Medical Examiner’s Office, Salem Bomb Squad, and the Homeless Services Team.

Together, these efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to justice and community safety.

JOSEPH WIRKKALA SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 2025 WALLACE MARINE PARK MURDER.

DALLAS (OR) – Today, Polk County Circuit Judge Norman R. Hill sentenced Joseph Andrew Wirkkala, age 38, to life in prison for the 2025 murder in Salem’s Wallace Marine Park of Jacob Collazo, age 62. Under the terms of the sentence, Wirkkala will be required to serve a minimum of 32.5 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

In addition to the charge of Murder in the Second-Degree, a Polk County jury found Wirkkala, of Salem, guilty of Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, and Reckless Endangering involving Mr. Collazo. The jury also found Wirkkala guilty of Attempted Murder in the Second-Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Menacing, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted Assault in the Fourth Degree, and Reckless Endangering, involving Nichelle Issak, age 36. The jury also found Wirkkala guilty of Recklessly Endangering a third victim, Edward Baker, age 50.

After the sentencing, Polk County Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew T. Wilson commented, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Collazo on their tragic and senseless loss. It is our hope that the court’s sentence today leaves them feeling that some measure of justice has been served. We also extend our gratitude to the dedicated officers of the Salem Police Department for their investigation and commitment to seeing Mr. Wirkkala brought to justice.”

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew T. Wilson, and Deputy District Attorney Connor Amundson. The case was investigated by the Salem Police Department and Oregon State Police.

09/02/2026

As summer break winds down, it’s time to shift our focus to traffic safety with the new school year just around the corner.

Today, we want to remind everyone about the speed limits in school zones. Although the signs may vary, they all convey the same important message: the speed limit is 20 mph.

Our dedicated Traffic Team will be out monitoring the roads to help keep everyone safe. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive carefully as students return to school.

09/01/2026

Media Release: Case Update: Salem Police Make Arrest in Northwest Salem Homicide

SALEM, Ore., -- The Salem Police Department has made an arrest in connection with the shooting that occurred near Taggart and Wallace Roads NW on August 30, 2026.

On September 1, 2026, at approximately 11:32 a.m., SWAT personnel served a search warrant in the 1300 block of Wallace Road NW. The suspect, a 16-year-old male from Salem, surrendered without incident and was taken into custody.

Violent Crimes Unit detectives recovered a handgun during the search. The suspect will be transported to the Yamhill County Juvenile Detention Center after processing and lodged on charges including Murder in the Second Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

The victim and the suspect were known to each other, and the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident. The victim has been identified as Jeremiah Elijah Rojas, 26, of Salem. The Department extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Rojas’s family during this difficult time.

This is the second homicide investigated this year by the Criminal Investigations Section and the only one involving gun violence.

Further inquiries should be directed to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.

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09/01/2026

E-Bike Basics for Riders

Electric bicycles, or E-bikes, have become increasingly popular as a mode of transportation. However, not everyone is permitted to use them as the minimum age to legally ride one is currently 16 years old.

If you’re thinking about purchasing an e-bike or already own one, there are specific laws that riders must follow to stay compliant. Watch the video to learn more.

You can also catch the video on your YouTube channel SalemPDTV https://youtu.be/SlOYgdQ0YTs

As well as our Electric Motorcycle video https://youtu.be/cdBaqsfyJxI

Stay safe and ride responsibly!

09/01/2026

🚨 Shift Commander Report: August 28 – 30, 2026

Salem, your patrol officers responded to a total of 840 calls for service between Friday and Sunday this past week. Friday, August 28, was the busiest day, with 335 calls.

During this period, your officers successfully cleared 35 criminal warrants and made 3 DUII arrests through calls for service and proactive police work.

As always, your officers remain committed to responding quickly, investigating thoroughly, reducing crime, and ensuring the safety of our community and roadways.

🔍 Incident Highlights:

1️⃣ Felony Warrant Arrest – Fisher Road NE – Friday
Officers conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation. The male driver provided a false name to officers. Officers were able to locate the man’s true identity and found he had a confirmed Felony Criminal Arrest Warrant. He was lodged at Marion County Jail on the warrant.

2️⃣ Felony Warrant Arrest – Wallace Road NW – Friday
Officers conducted a traffic stop for a traffic violation. During the stop it was discovered the driver had a Criminal Arrest Warrant. The arrest was made without incident, and he was lodged at Marion County Jail.

3️⃣ Stalking – Rogets Court NE – Friday
A man was arrested repeated unwanted contact and threats toward his neighbors. The suspect was arrested and lodged at Marion County Jail for multiple charges including Stalking.

4️⃣ Felony Warrant Arrest – Wallace Road NW – Saturday
Officers conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist. Officers discovered he had a Felony Criminal Arrest Warrant. The suspect was taken into custody and lodged at Marion County Jail.

5️⃣ Assault and Resisting Arrest – 12th Street SE – Saturday
Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male threatening to fight people. When officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he resisted arrest, but he was ultimately taken into custody. The man was lodged at Marion County Jail on multiple charges including Resisting Arrest and charges related to violating a court ordered release agreement.

6️⃣ Warrant Arrest - Trespass – Marion Square Park – Sunday
Patrol officers contacted several persons in the park after it’s designated park closing hours. Two suspects with Criminal Arrest Warrants were located and lodged at Marion County Jail. Approximately 30-40 people were contacted and warned for trespassing.

7️⃣ Felony Warrant Arrest – Church Street NE – Sunday
Officers contacted a man while checking the property of a closed office building. The man was found to have a a Felony Probation Violation Warrant and was lodged at Marion County Jail.