Salem was one of the original thirteen jurisdictions included in Virginia's pilot endeavor, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.). In 1986 the department began sending officers to participate in the training program for the position of DARE Instructor.
There are three officers assigned to the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program. One Officer is assigned to Andrew Lewis Middle School, one is assigned to East Salem & South Salem Elementary Schools and one is assigned to G. W. Carver and West Salem Elementary Schools. They are responsible for providing the D.A.R.E. Lessons at their respective school. These officers spearhead the annual D.A.R.E. Picnic. All of them Spend countless hours preparing for and working at the Salem Camp D.A.R.E. each summer. They also work in unison to create and build the D.A.R.E. Christmas float for the annual Salem Christmas Parade.
