Salem Police Department "CIU"

SPD CIU


   CIU or "Community Impact Unit" initiated in 2007 and is a part of Salem Police Department's Administrative and Auxiliary Service Division. Under command of Lt. Dennis King, this new type of unit is utilizes community policing to the max!



   The Community Impact Unit was developed specifically to identify and address incidents that impact the Salem communities. This includes the quality of life for citizens in Salem as well as communities all over the country that often come to Salem for its tourist attractions.

Notorious Halloween in Salem

Milestones accomplished by CIU include

• created innovative programs that have a direct positive impact on public disorder crimes
•  identified criminal trends and address other issues of societal concern
• Grow relations between SPD and the community

SPD CIU Link



   Recently the CIU has been adopted under the Departments Special Operations Division. There are three officers that operate the CIU with the specific idea of utilizes community policing to solve community issues. Sgt. Harry Rocheville, Sgt. Dennis King and Officer Robert Phelan work together with the citizens of Salem, businesses, the courts, other government agencies and the Department's several other divisions to maximize SPD resources to benefit the community.

Of all the officers in the CIU are all trained extensively in community relations and in many ways. Officers include

• Sgt. Rocheville: A 22 year old veteran of the PD. He spent multiple years on the Criminal Investigation Unit. He dealt with numerous complicated cases involving drug trafficking, fraud and sexual assault crimes.
• Sgt. Dennis King: Serves on the dive team and honor guard, Spent four years in The Point neighborhood as a patrolman, extensive training in defensive tactics, graffiti recognition expert and crime mapper.
• Officer Phelan: Born and raised in North Salem, on the job since 1987, graduate on Salem State University, SPD Field Training Officer FTO, also a member of the dive team





Salem's "The Point" Neighborhood

Vision and Action Plan


   The neighborhood in Salem known as "The Point" is a densely populated, low-income minorities community that has for years been neglected by the City of Salem. This area has been crime ridden and poverty stricken and finally a plan is being initiated to solve some of the issues surround "The Point".

  Geographical map of  "The Point", South of Downtown and Wharf areas

    The Point primary consists of three story, multi family homes that are in most cases in need of desperate repair. With only 144 square acres, there are over 4100 occupants in this small location. This area has been notorious for its high rate of crimes including murders, illicit drug deals, break ins and violent crimes. The ethnically diverse area has immigrant-owned business's, affordable housing and easy access to the downtown area making it a superb location for individuals who may have addictions or past crimes a place to call home.



Fatal Shooting of a 27 year old Salem man

   Recently a plan by the City and State have appropriated funding for the plan now known as the "Vision and Action Plan." The plan begun initiation in 2013 and will run through until 2020, where collaborations will work to improve The Point neighborhood.

Goals of the plan

• Empower residents to create their own community vision
• mobilize resources to ensure that the Point develops sustainably in its housing, land and environmental resources, and its economy
• Create a safe and conducive environment for young children and adults

Salem Point Vision Project



   Salem Police Departments Role in The Point

It is no surprise that with the rampant crime in this area,  that there is going to be a greater police presence. However the aim is not to simply have officers in the area solely to respond to calls of crime reports. The community policing aspect comes in to play by officers remaining in the neighborhood and embracing the local residents with relationships.

  As with any low-income, minority community, trying to establish relations between community members and respective law enforcement officers could prove a challenge. None the less,  it is critical to connect the two in order to have a safe, beneficial environment for everyone.


Flikr account of The Point!


The Point


Here's an interesting concept


An app and game have been developed for members of the community where by using it they can
electronically interacted with one another on their smart phone or computer to contribute ideas about the neighborhood. "What's the Point?" is the name of this app.


Members can

• Contribute ideas about the neighborhood
• Collect coins for participation, the coins are worth real services the will benefit the neighborhood
• Interact with one another, whereas previously they may not have had the opportunity to do so
• Discuss common issues, problems or solutions!

Interesting video on this app!

Whats the point?

Boston Police Commision William Evans on Community Policing

   Boston Police Commissioner William Evans

    For those of you who do not know who the police commissioner of Boston Police Department he is a local by the name of William Evans. Being commissioner for over two years now, Commissioner Evans has had great impacts on the department and City of Boston.

BPD news feed

    Not long ago, Evans was accredited with superbly handling the apprehension of the Marathon Bomber in Watertown. He was originally an Incident Commander on the night that the bomber was located in a boat in the backyard of a Watertown home. Evans gave the strategic order to "cease fire" on the boat for he did not want cross fire to harm the many officers that were surrounding the area. This call potential saved the lives of officers from cross fire.

Scene of the apprehension of Tsarnaev

   Now, being Commissioner, Evans has adopted a style of community policing that he says is due to his nature of being born and raised in South Boston.  Still living with his wife and two children in the same neighborhood he grew up in, Evans is a true spirit of Boston. After escaping a soon to be troubled childhood by attending religious school, Evans followed the ways of one of his older brothers and became a police officer.

Evans (Right) talks about the night in Watertown

  One event of notoriety that Evans had was during the Black Lives Matter Protest in Boston last year. Evans had recognized some of the protestors as Occupy Protestors from the previous year. He personally went down everyday and made relations with them. This a form of community policing. By Evans meeting with the protestors and learning why they are there, created trust amongst the parties instead of hatred and conflict.

Interview on Boston Black Lives Matter Protest

  One of the protestors who had gotten to know Evans on a face to face basis, Duncan McKenna, even ask Evans to write him a letter of recommendation to college. Evans of which replied,  “Oh yes, I’d be happy to." In an interview Evans claims it is his humble origins that allow for him to adopt this kind of community policing and helping others succeed.

   Another significant element on Evan's community policing tactics, are his theories and strategies in dealing with minorities groups. His theory is that by using "dialogue" and talking out issues with officers and minority groups, violence could be reduced. Michael Curry, the NAACP Boston branch president says,

“I get the impression he wants his legacy to be a commissioner that knows he wants his officers to engage people differently, Whether that will happen, whether that culture will change for some cops who do that I don’t know, but I’m anxious and excited to see a commissioner that’s willing to have the conversation and willing to demand more of his officers as they engage our communities.”

Curry and Evans work together on a social task force to review police stops of minoritys to ensure that there are not disproportionate stops of black or Hispanics residents.