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Portsmouth police report overall crime decline but rise in violent incidents; unveil gun-violence dashboard and new enforcement units
Summary
Chief Jenkins told council that property crimes are down about 22% year to date while violent crimes are up roughly 11%; the department launched a public gun-violence dashboard, a SAVE unit to pursue brandishing incidents and other new programs aimed at reducing shootings and retail theft.
Chief Jenkins presented Portsmouth police year-to-date crime statistics and new public-safety initiatives at a June 10 City Council work session, telling council members that property crimes have fallen while violent incidents have increased.
“we're we're trending in a very good direction as it relates to our property crimes,” Chief Jenkins said, reporting a roughly 22.2% decrease year to date compared with the same period last year. He said the department is about 300 incidents lower than last year for property crimes. By contrast, Jenkins said violent crime was up about 11% year to date and cited increases in aggravated assaults, brandishing of firearms and shootings into occupied dwellings.
The chief described a string of recent incidents, including a shooting at a graduation-party gathering on Viking Street that left four victims expected to recover; he said investigators found shell casings of at least four different calibers and that possible suspects range in age from 16 to 20. Jenkins also described an…
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