Portsmouth police and council debate funding strategy as staffing gaps drive overtime

Chief Mark Newport, Portsmouth chief of police, told the Portsmouth City Council and Police Commission during a June 9, 2025 work session that the department needs a minimum of 70 sworn officers to allow regular time off and reduce overtime costs.

"Eighty‑six percent of our budget is comprised of staffing," Newport said, adding that officers "are not widgets" and that understaffing increases risk to officer health and operational resilience.

The discussion centered on two linked problems: persistent vacancies that department leaders say require overtime to meet minimum staffing, and differing views among commissioners and councilors about when the city should fund additional positions. Newport cited a staffing study and department data showing that when the force falls below 70 officers, remaining officers must work additional shifts…