Dek: Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack will retire May 22 after more than five years leading the department, closing a tenure defined by strategic planning, body-worn camera deployment and ongoing staffing pressure.
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack will retire effective May 22, ending a tenure that began in late 2020 as the department navigated staffing pressure, accountability demands and broader public scrutiny of policing.
City Manager Krishna Namburi announced the retirement March 10, saying Womack informed her of his decision after more than 34 years in law enforcement and more than five years serving Salem. Womack joined the Salem Police Department in December 2020, arriving during what the city described as a period of significant pressure and uncertainty for both law enforcement and the community.
In announcing the retirement, Namburi credited Womack with helping shape the department’s recent direction, including the development of Salem Police’s first public strategic plan. The city said that plan set goals around community safety, police-community trust and organizational excellence, while also helping guide department priorities.
Under Womack’s leadership, Salem Police also rolled out its first body-worn camera program, a move city officials have described as important for criminal investigations, accountability and public trust. The city further pointed to data-driven decision-making, violence-reduction efforts and expanded coordination with criminal justice agencies, nonprofits and service providers supporting people experiencing homelessness or crisis.
Namburi said Womack brought a thoughtful style to the job and played an important role beyond the police department itself.
“On a personal note, I have greatly appreciated Chief Womack’s analytical approach and intellectual curiosity. Every conversation with him yielded thoughtful suggestions and new ways to serve our community,” Namburi said in the city’s announcement.
She added that Womack “embraced the City of Salem, this community, and his staff, making Salem his home and always striving to build trust and do what is right for the community,” and said his work was especially valuable during development of the city’s Safe, Clean, Healthy Salem initiative.
Womack’s retirement comes as Salem Police, like many departments nationwide, continues to face staffing challenges. The city said he worked to maintain essential public safety services while also advocating for resources to support both officers and the broader community.
The announcement also emphasized Womack’s communication style, describing him as a leader who prioritized direct communication with both the public and the media, while also listening internally and seeking collaboration across the department.
In the same release, Womack said the job had been one of the defining roles of his career.
“Serving this department and community has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” Womack said. “Salem welcomed me from day one, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together: stronger partnerships, a clear strategic direction, and a department committed to safety, trust, and excellence in everything we do.”
To maintain continuity during the transition, Assistant Chief Brandon Ditto will serve as interim police chief for at least six months after Womack’s retirement. The city said that period will be used to assess the needs of the department and the community before determining a longer-term leadership path.
The retirement marks a leadership transition for one of the city’s most visible departments at a time when questions around staffing, public trust and service delivery remain central to Salem’s public safety discussions.