Salem initiates joint effort to tackle rising crime, teen gun violence [Video]

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A six-agency effort in Salem hopes to disrupt and prevent a rise in crime in Oregon’s capitol as the summer months arrive and several teens face charges.

Authorities say they are just as frustrated with the state of the city as its residents. In response, they hope to boost the joint Community Violence Reduction Initiative (CVRI) this summer after it was first launched last November.

Washington Cascades hit with hundreds of lightning strikes; 12 new fires started

Salem police spokesperson Angela Hedrick said the joint response is a mark of their investment “to collectively come together and pull our resources to see what we could do over this summer to try and curb the violence that we are seeing.”

Earlier this month, police arrested four teens for allegedly shooting and killing a family’s cat. Three faced criminal proceedings in juvenile court, and one faces a charge of first-degree aggravated animal abuse.

…