Portsmouth reviews recent crime data, highlights community violence intervention program

PORTSMOUTH, Va.

City officials on Jan. 27 heard a police briefing that cited recent declines in several categories of reported crime and a detailed update from Portsmouth United, the city'linked community violence-intervention (CVI) program that funds local partners and a violence-interruption team.

Chief of Police Daryl Jenkins told the council that NIBRS-based reporting showed an overall reduction of about 17% for the Oct. 1'Dec. 31 reporting period, with crimes against persons down roughly 11.7% in that quarter and property crimes down about 20.3%, driven largely by larceny and theft. Jenkins also cited a three-year average (2022'2025) figure he described as a roughly 55% decline in selected reported incidents and said the department has improved response times and aims for an 8% reduction in crime in 2026.

"We're really focusing on what's going on in 2026," Jenkins said, while outlining operational steps: monthly community forums held in neighborhoods rather than quarterly sessions at police headquarters, a public Power BI crime dashboard, expanded supervisory promotions, peer-support certification for officers and plans to build officer and civilian support-staff capacity.

Why it matters

Portsmouth United, which uses state "Safer Communities" funds, is the city's intervention arm meant to reduce violence by funding local organizations and maintaining a 10-person violence-interruption (VI) team that works to prevent retaliation and provide immediate care after violent incidents. Council members and staff framed the CVI work as complementary to police investigations: when interrupters can calm a scene, police can focus on evidence and arrests.

Ms. Matthews, presenting Portsmouth United's FY25 results, said the program supported 23 community partners and reported reaching 10,659 participants ages 4 to 60 through prevention, intervention and treatment activities. Program highlights included youth-employment placements, Peace Week and an art-mural project, school-based partnerships and a crisis-stabilization effort that has provided relocation and funeral-assistance support in some cases.

"The goal of our program is really to address the underlying causes of violence, and to do that in a community setting," Matthews said, describing how prevention partners refer higher-need cases to intervention and treatment providers. She named partner groups that received mini-grants, including the YMCA, Edward Brown Foundation, Give Back to the Block, Big Homies and Footprint Foundation.

How the VI teams operate

Matthews and Jenkins said the VI team is structured with a lead, a floater and pairs of interrupters assigned to four focus areas (Prentice Park, Dale's Home, Southside and London Oaks) and that team members will deploy citywide when incidents indicate risk elsewhere. Matthews said the team totals 10 people: "one is a lead and one is a floater," plus the paired focus-area interrupters.

Jenkins emphasized the distinction between police and interrupters: "These folks don't work for the police department," he told the council, noting the interrupters are a separate public-safety resource who take personal risk to engage people involved in violence and help manage community tensions so investigators can work.

Training, data and access

Council members pressed for more detail on training, measurement and how residents reach the VI team. Matthews said the MC&T contract and the Intervention Strategy Group provide intensive on-the-ground and classroom training, and that reporting protocols are being developed so the program can document mediated incidents without personal identifiers. She described planned neighborhood "hub" locations (example: an apartment in London Oaks), badges and QR codes for team contact, and a Portsmouth United app feature. The city also launched a public-facing portal called "Portsmouth Buzz" (Android & web availability; Apple App Store pending).

Funding concerns and next steps

Several council members noted the program currently relies primarily on state funding and asked for a clearer forecast of future state support so the city can weigh any local contribution during the upcoming budget process; Matthews confirmed much of the current funding comes from the state. City Manager Steven Carter also previewed items for the regular meeting that followed the work session, including three resolutions, three ordinances and acceptance of three grants (Carter stated the grants total $3,870), plus an item to appoint attorney Stromberg to a board.

What officials asked for

Council members requested more granular crime data (assault, burglary, vandalism, larceny) over 6'12-month windows and asked staff to report regionally for comparison with other Hampton Roads cities. They also suggested adding school'CVI coordination and workforce development to a joint council'school retreat agenda scheduled for Feb. 1.

The council did not take formal votes on these program items at the work session; staff said the regular meeting would address separate resolutions and grant-acceptance items.

Ending

City officials closed the work session by thanking Portsmouth United staff and the VI team for their community work and urged continued public engagement as the program expands and the city refines data and funding plans.