Multi-Agency Sweep Cleans Salem Neighborhoods of Crime and Drugs

File Photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - Several local agencies conducted a sweep operation Saturday that included the investigation of drug activity complaints, attempts to locate fugitives in the area, increased traffic enforcement, and graffiti abatement and area clean-up projects by inmate work crews from the Marion County Work Release Center.

Marion County Sheriff`s spokesman Kevin Rau says the sweeping community effort was conducted by the Marion County Sheriff`s Office, Corrections and Parole and Probation Divisions, the Salem and Keizer Police Departments, Marion County Code Enforcement, Salem Public Works, the Oregon Department of Human Services � Child Welfare, the U.S. Marshal`s Office and the community action organization No Meth Not In My Neighborhood Friday in southeast Salem, and Keizer.

The Salem Public Library`s Bookmobile was on hand at Aldrich Park and Deluxe Ice Cream Company donated ice cream to children in the area.

Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch resources were also made available to community members, Rau said.

`This may have been the largest effort of its kind ever undertaken in the Salem/Marion County area with more than 130 people participating from the various agencies and community groups."

He says that while the groups worked to clean up the community, more than 20 arrests were made for various offenses including parole and probation violations and drug offenses.