Drug Offenses Growing Yearly in Salem, Police Say

The 2012 Salem Town Report has officially been released, and with it a wave of crime statistics and other information from the Salem Police Department.

According to Police Chief Paul Donovan, the most serious issue facing the town is the "ever-increasing issue of drug offenses."

Donovan said that the crimes are growing yearly, and they bring about some of the other issues seen in the statistical breakdown such as burglary, shoplifting and theft, assault and gun-related activity.

He added that much of the drug crime is coming up from the larger cities in Massachusetts.

But not all is bad, as illegal drug reduction efforts have led to asset forfeiture awards that have assisted purchases of vehicles, computers and software, training and defense equipment.

In the last year, Salem saw 648 drug/narcotic offenses, up from the 530 reported in 2011.

The department also saw a massive increase in total criminal calls from 6,908 in 2011 to 8,449.

But despite the call volume increase, total arrests were only slightly up in 2012. A total of 2,167 were arrested last year in comparison to the 2,136 in 2011.

Here are the numbers for Class A and Class B offenses.

Class A Offenses

Arson: 12

Aggravated Assault: 20

Simple Assault: 185

Bribery: 0

Burglary/Breaking and Entering: 112

Counterfeiting/Forgery: 57

Credit Card/Automated Teller Machine: 83

Destruction/Damage/Vandalism: 268

Drug/Narcotic Offenses: 648

Drug Paraphernalia Offenses: 0

Embezzlement: 0

Extortion/Blackmail: 0

False Pretenses/Swindle/Confidence Games: 153

Forcible Fondling: 4

Forcible Rape: 6

Forcible Sodomy: 0

Gambling Offenses: 0

Homicides: 2

Impersonation: 32

Incest: 4

Intimidation: 115

Kidnapping/Abduction: 4

Motor Vehicle Theft: 48

Pocket-picking: 0

Pornography/Obscene Material: 6

Prostitution Offenses: 4

Purse Snatching: 0

Receiving stolen property: 167

Robbery: 22

Sexual Assault with an object: 2

Shoplifting/Willful Concealment: 461

Statutory Rape: 3

Thefts from buildings: 116

Thefts from coin-operated machines: 1

Thefts from motor vehicles: 110

Theft of MV parts/Accessories: 20

Weapons Law violations: 10

Welfare Fraud: 0

Wire Fraud: 2

All other larceny: 245

Class B Offenses

Bad Checks: 21

Curfew/Loitering/Vagrancy: 8

Disorderly Conduct: 158

Driving under the Influence: 277

Drunkenness: 85

Family Offenses, non-violent: 35

Liquor Law violation: 228

Peeping Tom: 1

Runaway: 2

Trespass of real property: 38

All other offenses: 1,551