Salem city councilors on Monday will decide if they will accept private money to fund two new police officers for the Salem Police Department’s Homelessness Services Team, according to a staff report from City Manager Krishina Namburi.

The $180,000 in private funds were offered to the city by business leaders associated with the Salem Main Street Association and the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and will pay for a six month pilot program that will put two more police officers on the streets to deal with unmanaged homeless camps.

The two officers will double the size of the police department’s Homelessness Services Team, and the private donors will consider releasing another $180,000 if the program is successful.

In an unsigned letter to Namburi, Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack,

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