Press Releases

Food drive to benefit Gather (formerly known as Seacoast Food Pantry). The food drive will be Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Market Basket, 1465 Woodbury Avenue.

Several officers, department employees and their family members will be in front of the store handing out flyers listing specific items that the food pantry needs to meet demands during the holiday season. Shoppers who wish to participate can purchase items on the list and drop them off at Portsmouth Police cruisers on their way out.

Street Closures and No Parking in the Greater Downtown Area for the Portsmouth Holiday Parade Saturday, December 2nd, 2017

Effective from 4:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday, December 2nd, 2017 the Chief of Police will be invoking his emergency powers, prohibiting parking and vehicular travel on certain streets in the City due to the Annual Portsmouth Holiday Parade.

Reference:Recent Car Break-ins

The Portsmouth Police Department is currently investigating numerous car break-ins that have occurred throughout the City in recent weeks. Many of the acts are believed to have been committed by a group specifically targeting parking lots of gyms, athletic facilities and commercial buildings. Entry is generally made by breaking a window in the vehicle and they are specifically looking for driver’s licenses, credit cards, and checkbooks.

Yesterday, the Portsmouth Police Department issued a Press Release seeking the public’s assistance in locating a wanted person for Animal Cruelty. An arrest has now been made in conjunction with that broadcast.

On October 31, 2017 at approximately 7:00pm the following individual surrendered himself to the Portsmouth Police Department and was charged with the following crimes:

Kenneth Hale

DOB: 07-28-1958

Last Known address 886 State Street Unit #33

Reference: Animal Cruelty / Wanted Person

From: Sergeant Kuffer R. Kaltenborn

Date of Release: Tuesday, 31 October, 2017

On September 22, 2017, Officers with the Portsmouth Police Department began an investigation into a report of Animal Cruelty at 886 State Street Unit #33 , Portsmouth NH.

On October 26, 2017 with the funding provided by Granite Shield Opioid Grant the Portsmouth Police Department working with the Seacoast High Intensity Drug Interdiction Team made up of local officers and detectives from Seabrook, Hampton, Greenland and Newington Police Departments, along with the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police Mobile Enforcement Team, the Drug Enforcement Administration and New Hampshire Probation and Parole arrested the following individuals:

Trevor Mackenzie

Age: 26

214 Bellemarsh Road

South Berwick, ME

Date of Release: October 12, 2017

Subject: Sex Offender Duty to Report

On October 11, 2017 the following subject voluntarily turned himself in at the Portsmouth Police Department on an arrest warrant for Sex Offender Duty to Report, which is a class B Felony.

Joseph G. Diment

Date of Birth: 02/05/1940

12 Crescent Lane

Wells, Maine

Reference: Sexual Assault Arrest

On October 6, 2017 the Portsmouth Police Department arrested Khim Sok, 59 yoa of 19 McGuigan Circle, Lowell, MA on a felony warrant for one charge of Aggravated Felonious Sexual Assault and one charge of Felonious Sexual Assault. The charges stem from an investigation into an allegation that Sok had sexually assaulted a 12 year old child known to him while at Water Country on July 26, 2017. Sok was held on $100,000.00 cash bail and is expected to be arraigned on 10/10/2017 at Portsmouth District Court at 8:00 AM.

At approximately 12:27 A.M. on October 6, 2017 (Friday Morning) Portsmouth Police were called to the McDonald’s at 1000 Lafayette Road for the report of an Armed Robbery.  An employee of McDonalds reported being approached in the parking lot after locking up the business by a male with a handgun.  With the gun pointed at the employee the suspect demanded to be let into the restaurant.  The suspect was not able to get back into the restaurant and ultimately took personal belongings from the employee.   

Portsmouth, N.H. – It's a campaign called “Beards for Bucks.’' Starting October 1st, law enforcement officers across Rockingham County will go razor-less to raise awareness and funds for the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County (CACRC), a local non-profit organization that collaborates with law enforcement to provide safe, child-friendly spaces for investigative services of child abuse.