City of Salem Sheriff's Office, Virginia

10/09/2026

Street closures for the Salem Half Marathon tomorrow!

10/08/2026

❤️ Thank You, Hardee’s! ❤️

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our partners at Hardee’s on West Main Street for their outstanding service and support in helping us raise money for Special Olympics Virginia.

Thanks to their assistance and the generosity of our community, we raised over $500 in just a couple of hours! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and donated to support this wonderful program. Your generosity makes a difference, and we are grateful for your continued support!

Together, we can make a difference! 💙💛

09/21/2026

Come out and support Special Olympics Virginia-Area 8: Roanoke Valley on Saturday and watch teams compete to pull the FedEx cargo plane! See the link below for all of the details.
https://www.specialolympicsva.org/southwest-va-plane-pull

09/12/2026

OLDE SALEM DAYS ROAD CLOSING INFO FOR SATURDAY
Be sure to take moment and review the road closures on Saturday in Salem due to the annual Olde Salem Days event on Main Street.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, we remember September 11, 2001.
We remember all of the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the courage of the first responders, firefighters, police officers, medical workers, and ordinary people who stepped forward to help.

We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve and protect their communities every day.

May we never forget those we lost and the strength and compassion shown in the days that followed.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget. 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

We are excited about the Public Safety Academy and greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the Salem Police Department and the Salem Fire and EMS Department. We look forward to building a strong partnership and working together to support the community we serve.

08/29/2026

Sheriff Steve Draper leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, dedication, and leadership to the people of Martinsville and the Commonwealth of Virginia. As Virginia’s longest-serving sheriff, his career stands as a testament to integrity, commitment, and the true meaning of public service. His influence reached far beyond Martinsville, inspiring generations of law enforcement leaders through his example. It was an honor to meet Sheriff Draper and learn from his years of dedicated service. His legacy will continue to live on through the many lives he touched and the officers he inspired.

08/23/2026

John Saunders was a true pillar of the Salem community, known for his hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Salem. He always put the community first and did what he believed was best for Salem. His contributions, kindness, and devotion will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

JOHN SAUNDERS - ONE OF SALEM'S BIGGEST SUPPORTERS - PASSES AT AGE 66
It is with great sadness that City Council members and City leaders announce the passing of Salem City Councilman John Saunders, who died this Saturday afternoon at the age of 66.

“The impact John had on the City of Salem is immeasurable” said Salem City Manager Chris Dorsey. “I am humbled by his lifelong dedication and service to the city. His passing is a difficult day for all of us”.

Councilman Saunders began working part-time for the Salem Civic Center at a young age. He was a graduate of Salem High School and Roanoke College. Saunders began his professional career at the Civic Center in 1983 and advanced to become both the Assistant Director for the Civic Center and eventually the Director of Salem’s Civic Facilities until his retirement in March of 2017.

During his tenure at the Salem Civic Center Complex, Saunders was instrumental in both the expansion of facilities and the creation of events.

“John worked relentlessly to bring events to the area knowing they would not only enhance Salem’s statewide and national profiles, but also enhance the entire region economically”, said his longtime co-worker and friend Carey Harveycutter. “Without John’s input, his connections, and his willingness to work with all groups, many of these events would have never gotten off the ground. He will be sorely missed by me and many others.”

Saunders was first elected to Salem City Council, serving from July 1, 2018, through December 31, 2022. He began his current City Council term on January 1, 2025. That term was scheduled to expire December 31, 2028.

As a Council member, Saunders served on the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission, the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization Policy Board, and was a member of Salem’s Audit-Finance Committee.

Here is a link to his online bio.
https://www.salemva.gov/790/John-Saunders

08/14/2026

It was wonderful coordinating with our many Law Enforcement partners and other community advocates at the National Night Out event and Back-to-School Bash. We hope all of the students and teachers have a great kick-off to the year next week!