A popular and long-running community engagement program is returning to the Salem Police Department next spring after city budget cuts canceled the 2025 event.

The Community Police Academy will be available again in April 2026, department spokeswoman Angela Hedrick said.

The announced this year’s cancellation in a Facebook post March 10, prompting disappointment and frustration from some Salem residents.

“How unfortunate. This was such good education for the community,” one commenter said.

The academy , which is run by volunteers and police, offered the public weeks of classes on police procedures and programs, including traffic investigations and recruitment.

When the event was canceled for 2025, it was unclear whether it would be available moving forward due to increasing servic

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