Newport’s police chief briefed the Board of Commissioners on recent public-safety trends and followed with commissioners’ remarks about a recent RMR fire and air-quality concerns.

Chief remarks: The police chief told the board there have been zero homicides in Newport so far this year and that the department had nine corroborated “shots fired” incidents to date. The chief emphasized community cooperation and credited residents and law enforcement for successful investigations; he also said the department has prioritized retail-theft enforcement and provided long-term perspective on call volumes.

Why it matters: The chief framed the statistics to provide perspective amid broader regional reporting of violent incidents. Commissioners asked about specific recent incidents, and the chief said the department responded and worked to resolve cases quickly.

RMR fire and air concerns: At the meeting, a commissioner raised a recent fire at an RMR (shredding/recycling) site and noted the smoke lingered over the West Side for roughly 30 minutes, which the commissioner described as a violation of the facility’s EPA permit that limits dust and emissions. The commissioner said local EPA officials were notified and urged continued monitoring because, although the shredder operations have ended, the facility still can produce smoke and airborne pollutants.

Board response: Commissioners praised police and fire response to recent events and urged continued liaison with state environmental authorities regarding the RMR incident. The board also commended neighborhood cooperation and the speed of law enforcement investigations in resolving recent cases.

Next steps: Commissioners asked staff and the police chief to maintain communication with state environmental regulators and to keep the board informed about follow-up actions related to the RMR fire and any additional safety concerns.