Beginning Monday, January 31, 2022, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Team will be joining law enforcement agencies from throughout Oregon to focus on safety belt and child seat laws. By using federally funded overtime, we will have increased patrols on county roadways to help educate community members about the importance of the proper use of safety restraints.

In 2019, Oregon Department of Transportation crash data shows a lack of safety belt or child restraint use was a factor in 26% of motor vehicle occupant fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages one through twelve years old nationwide.

In 2017, an Oregon law was passed requiring children under two years old to ride in a rear-facing safety seat. A child over two must continue to ride in a car seat with harness or in a booster until they reach age eight or 4’9” in height and the adult safety belt fits them correctly. To ensure proper car seat installation, parents should consult the car seat manufacturer’s instructions, their vehicle owner’s manual, or visit a local child seat fitting station listed at https://oregonimpact.org/Child_Passenger_Safety.

Please join us as we work together to reduce traffic fatalities by encouraging the proper use of child restraints and safety belts! 

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At approximately 7:00 a.m. this morning, Sunday, January 16, 2022, a 911 caller reported hearing gunfire on Deana Street NE near Monroe Avenue NE, in the unincorporated area of East Salem. The caller told deputies they were driving on their way to work when they passed by two unknown juveniles who began yelling at him. As the caller was driving away their car was struck by at least one bullet believed to have been fired by the juveniles.

As deputies searched the area they learned a nearby residence had been struck by gunfire as well. A Sheriff’s Office K-9 was called to the scene; none of the suspects involved were located. At this time, deputies have not located anyone who was injured during the incident.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have information about this incident to call our non-emergency dispatch at 503-588-5032 or to submit a tip by texting TIPMCSO and their tip to 847411.

During the holiday season the Marion County Sheriff’s Office took part in an annual high visibility enforcement event focused on locating impaired drivers. Between December 15, 2021, and January 1, 2022, deputies from the Enforcement Division arrested 19 drivers for driving while under the influence of intoxicants in Marion County.

Enforcement Commander Jeff Stutrud said, “We want people to understand their decision to drive while impaired impacts everyone around them. The tragedies caused by impaired drivers are preventable. Please help us work together by encouraging our family, friends, and neighbors to drink responsibly and to use a designated driver.”

The Sheriff’s Office used grant funding from Oregon Impact to supplement our enforcement efforts during this high visibility enforcement event.

***Original media release from December 20, 2021***

This holiday season the Marion County Sheriff’s Office will have additional deputies patrolling with a focus on impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,142 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2019. This accounts for nearly one-third of traffic crash fatalities. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2015 to 2019 – nationwide one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 52 minutes in 2019.

When making plans to celebrate this holiday season, please keep these tips in mind to help everyone have a fun and safe celebration:

• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call your local law enforcement agency.
• Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.

These additional holiday patrols are made possible by using grant dollars. For more information about the 2021 Holiday Season Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

The investigation into the January 2, 2022, fatal shooting on 45^th Avenue NE in the unincorporated area of East Salem continued overnight. Investigators have identified the person deceased at the scene as Peter Bishop (42) of Salem.

The resident, who is reported to have shot Bishop, is a 62 year-old Salem man. At the time of the incident his adult daughter and two grandchildren were in the home as well.  None of the people in the home were injured during the incident.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office for review.

****Original Media Release from January 2, 2022****

On January 2, 2022, at just before 7:00 p.m., deputies were called to a disturbance at a home on 45th Avenue NE near Iberis Street NE. A 911 caller reported an unknown male was trying to break into the home before a resident shot the intruder. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were no other reported injuries.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Unit have been called out to investigate the incident. Due to this being an active investigation, no additional information is available for release at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is being asked to submit tips online at https://www.co.marion.or.us/SO/Pages/tip411.aspx or by texting TIPMCSO and their tip to 847411