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Police report shows 34 charges and increased patrols at Portsmouth waterfront this season
Summary
The police reported 34 charges, 93 parking citations and 689 area patrols for waterfront enforcement between May 1 and Sept. 2; an undercover operation beginning mid‑July produced 20 of the charged cases at a cost of $6,475.95 in overtime and operations.
Chief Peters told the Town Council on Sept. 23 that waterfront enforcement from May 1 through Sept. 2 resulted in 34 individuals charged for a mix of ordinance and state‑law violations, 93 parking citations and 689 area patrol checks across six designated waterfront locations.
The department counted four incidents requiring additional response and listed offenses including 11 counts of kindling a fire, three domestic assault complaints, 11 incidents of public alcohol consumption, several disorderly conduct and trespass charges, a drug possession charge and one charge for littering. Chief Peters said the town deployed plainclothes officers for 48 hours focused on beach areas; those undercover operations accounted for 20 of the 34 charges.
Councilors asked whether patrol checks represented dedicated enforcement or routine shift activity. Chief Peters said area patrols reflect officers logging checks during normal shifts while directed undercover patrols were overtime assignments. He confirmed the undercover operation cost $6,475.95 and said it ran from July 14 through Aug. 21, the seasonal peak period.
Councilors also discussed deterrent effects and geographic displacement of activity: the chief reported that enforcement reduced problems under the Sauconet River bridge but coincided with increased activity at Weaver Cove later in the season. Councilors suggested cost‑benefit review before repeating the operation next summer.
