Salem Plans Heavy Security, Surveillance for Halloween Activities

When thousands of visitors descend upon one of the nation's spookiest cities this fall, they'll be met with surveillance cameras and police canine units.

These measures are part of an overall security plan that Salem officials say will ensure Halloween celebrations will be safe for everyone.

Salem's police chief, Lucas J. Miller, said that security tactics such as “canines capable of detecting explosives and weapons,” “counter-drone measures,” and security cameras will be pressed into service in the days and weekss leading up to Halloween.

Additionally, police from Marblehead and Peabody, as well as the regional law enforcement group, the Essex County Sheriff's Department, state troopers, park rangers, and FBI and ATF agents, will team up to provide security.

During a news conference on Tuesday, Sept. 9, covered by the Boston Globe, Miller said that Salem received more than 1 million visitors “throughout the month of October,” including approximately 100,000 people every Saturday. “I am expecting more than 100,000 on those very busy days,” he added.

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said that the city's Halloween-related events are purposefully staggered across October to help with crowds. 

“In many respects, that is intentional and good,” Pangallo said. “It helps to make sure that we don't have a million people coming over the course of one week alone.”

The MBTA said it will provide extra commuter rail trains during peak weekend times to Salem to accommodate the city's Haunted Happenings programming.

To help alleviate traffic in the city, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng encouraged visitors to Salem to use public transportation. “Leave your cars at home and enjoy the train, including using our $10 weekend Commuter Rail pass for expanded, frequent rail service to the Witch City this October for the month-long celebration,” he said in a media statement shared with the Globe.