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Police commission hears big early-2026 drops in calls and reviews $1.95M Smart City grant request and opioid-abatement funding
Summary
Deputy staff reported sharp decreases in early-2026 calls for service and traffic stops; the commission discussed a $1.95 million Smart City realtime crime center application and an opioid-abatement advisory commission approval of roughly $800,000 pending the executive council.
Portsmouth Police Commission members received a statistics and financial briefing on March 17 that combined notable crime-related decreases with active grant and capital requests.
A deputy presenting the crime-analysis report said January–February 2026 calls for service dropped to 4,120 from a three-year average of 6,716; arrests fell to 108 from 142; offense reports to 317 from 359; reportable motor-vehicle crashes to 21 from 70; and motor-vehicle stops to 594 from about 1,774. The deputy attributed much of the change to lower self-initiated stops, staffing levels and significant winter weather. "That number is almost cut in half," the deputy said of motor-vehicle stops.
Commissioners and staff discussed facility planning and operational projects. A Blue Ribbon Committee will review three options for police and city services space — the committee meets March 18 — but cost estimates are not yet available. Staff also said dispatch remediation selections are complete and the project awaits a contractor start date.
On funding, the commission heard about two pending grants. The department applied for a $1.95 million Smart City realtime crime center — a proposed system to allow residents to voluntarily share private camera feeds with investigators in near real time — with applications routed through Representative Papis's office and Senator Sheen's office. The commission was told the approach is voluntary for residents and intended to speed investigations by providing near-real-time access to footage.
Separately, the opioid-abatement advisory commission approved an approximately $800,000 two-year grant request that the department is awaiting executive council approval to access. Staff noted that congressional funding for IT infrastructure and other projects is also pending; in earlier submissions the department requested funds for IT related to a new facility and is preparing detailed grant applications once initial federal approvals are confirmed.
The commission was also updated on budget timing: the department is roughly 65% through the fiscal year and tracking at about 61.8% of FY26 budgeted spending; FY27 budget development is underway with finance staff to finalize IT and other numbers before submission to the city.
