Press Releases

The Portsmouth Police Department is deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols.  We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the Memphis community for his tragic death.

Twenty-one years after terror attacks on America destroyed the towers of the World Trade Center and surrounding area in New York City; heavily damaged the Pentagon in Washington DC; and caused the destruction of Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA, we will again pause and remember the world-changing events of September 11, 2001.

On Saturday, September 3rd, at approximately 10:19 P.M. Portsmouth Police Officers responded to an accident involving a motorcycle and motor vehicle on Lang Road near Longmeadow Road. The operator of the motorcycle was injured and in need of medical attention. The Portsmouth Fire Department arrived on scene and transported the operator of the motorcycle to the Portsmouth Regional Hospital Emergency Room. Later that evening the motorcycle operator was pronounced dead due to the injuries. He was identified as Jack Tizzard, age 22, from Kensington, N.H.

On Monday July 11th, 2022, the Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to promote Captain Michael Maloney to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. The effective date of his promotion has yet to be determined; however, once effective, Michael will oversee the three divisions of the police department: Patrol Division, Investigative Division and the Administrative Division.

Chief Mark Newport of the Portsmouth Police Department is invoking his lawful authority and orders that NO PARKING will be permitted on the following Portsmouth Streets on July 3rd, 2022 (with the exception of residents only) due to the annual fireworks display:

The Portsmouth Police Department will be joining the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other seacoast communities on the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this Saturday, April 30th, 2022 at the Portsmouth Police Department 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The event is being offered to the community to provide an opportunity to turn in prescription drugs which may be in your household and are no longer needed. The department will take pills, patches and liquid medicine. No needles or sharp items will be accepted. The service is free of charge and anonymous.

Due to a tree falling across the roadway, bringing power lines down in the area of 2222 Lafayette Road, the road has been closed and will be closed for an unknown period of time. Traffic travelling in-bound on Lafayette Road is being detoured down Constitution Avenue to Banfield Road. Traffic travelling out-bound on Lafayette Road is being detoured down West Road to Peverly Hill Road to Banfield Road. The traffic lights at Lafayette Road and Peverly Hill Road are currently out as are the traffic lights at Lafayette Road and Mirona Road.

On April 8, 2022, at approximately 11:30PM, Portsmouth Police officers were dispatched to the Press Room, located at 77 Daniel Street, for a report of an assault. Information was provided that a female patron had reportedly been struck in the face with a glass by a male subject. Upon police arrival, it was learned that the male subject had fled the scene. Efforts to initially locate the male subject were unsuccessful.

On Thursday, March 24, 2022, the Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to promote Patrol Sergeant Seth Tondreault and Detective Sergeant Eric Benson to the rank of Lieutenant. Seth will remain in the Patrol Division while Eric will transition over to the Administrative Division as the department’s Personnel & Training Lieutenant.

On March 19, 2022 the Portsmouth Police Department received a report of a sexual assault where the victim is under the age of 18.  During the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as:

James McKenzie

55 year-old