Press Releases

On Thursday, March 4th, 2021, the Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to promote Officer Brian Houde to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Patrol Division.

Sgt. Houde is currently approaching his 16th year as a police officer. He began his career as a patrol officer with the Berwick Maine Police Department from 2005-2009. He joined the Portsmouth Police Department in 2009 where he has worked the last 12 years, serving the community in the Patrol Division.

On Friday, February 19, 2021, the Board of Police Commissioners voted unanimously to promote Sergeant Jon Aubin to the rank of Lieutenant assigned to the Patrol Division.

On Friday, January 29, 2021, the Board of Police Commissioners promoted Lieutenant John Peracchi to the rank of Captain assigned to the Investigative Division.

On December 4th at approximately 12:10 AM, Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash at 495 Ocean Road. A vehicle travelling on Ocean Road left the roadway, struck a mailbox, continued through the front lawn of a residence and then struck a legally parked vehicle in the driveway of 495 Ocean Road. The lone occupant of the vehicle was not injured. Both vehicles involved in the crash sustained heavy damage.

On November 16th, shortly before 11:00 PM, Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of the Route 1 By-Pass South and Greenleaf Avenue. A vehicle travelling southbound on the Route 1 By-Pass left the roadway first striking a utility pole then striking two parked vehicles in a car dealership parking lot before coming to rest. All three vehicles sustained heavy damage.

On November 12th, 2020, the Portsmouth Police responded to 90 Brewery Lane to investigate what appeared to be a bullet hole in and through an apartment on the 4th floor. Detectives processed the scene and determined that a .45 caliber round came through the wall from an abutting apartment sometime overnight. A search warrant was executed on the apartment for which the round came from where further evidence was collected. As a result of the investigation, the following individual was arrested:

The Portsmouth Police Department will be joining the Drug Enforcement Administration and other seacoast communities on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this Saturday, October 24th 2020, at the Portsmouth Police Department from 10:00 A.M.

            In an effort to increase awareness and promote bicycle safety, the Portsmouth Police Department has partnered with the City Planning Department and SABR (Seacoast Area Bicycle Riders). Along with education, the partnership aims to spread the message of  “Teach the Reach”, a simple technique that requires drivers and passengers to look back over their shoulder before opening a vehicle door.

In an effort to evaluate the services we provide to our community, the Portsmouth Police Department is asking the members of our community to complete a brief but comprehensive survey which can be found on our web site at www.cityofportsmouth.com/police.

Four weeks from today, at 8:46 a.m., the Portsmouth Police Department will hold the annual Memorial Observance of the events of September 11, 2001.  Today, in the 90+ degree heat, a small army of volunteers landscaped and planted the area around an 1100 lb. 9/11 Steel Artifact to prepare it for next month’s Memorial Service.  The scarred steel I-beam, which was literally part of one of the World Trade Center towers, is the centerpiece of the Memorial site.