Press Releases

The Portsmouth Police Department proudly announce K9 Officer Bill Werner and K9 Frankie’s recent graduation from The Boston Police K9 Academy’s Patrol Dog School.  This Police Canine Handler course consisted of 560 hours of training and a National Certification in a variety of areas to include K9 Obedience, Evidence Recovery, Area Search, Building Search, Tracking, and Aggression Control. 

The NH Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force is pleased to announce and introduce to you K-9 Niko, NH ICAC’s first ever Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K-9. ESD K-9s are capable of detecting and finding electronics such as cell phones, computers, flash drives, hard drives, SD cards and even micro SD cards. These specialized K-9s are being deployed throughout the country and are being utilized for search warrants at the homes of suspected child pornographers.

The Portsmouth Police Department arrested 6 individuals yesterday, totaling 12 charges after a lengthy investigation involving the sale of narcotics at Portsmouth Housing Authority properties.

In the early morning hours of May 23rd, 2020, Portsmouth Fire and Police Departments responded to and investigated an arson fire at 155 Parrot Avenue, the Portsmouth Middle School. The NH State Fire Marshal’s Office and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted with the on-scene investigation.

Chief Robert Merner will be available outside in front of Police Headquarters at 11:45 a.m. this morning, June 1st, 2020 to make a statement and answer questions regarding the above captioned.

In reference to the ongoing investigation into a fire at the Portsmouth Middle School in the early morning hours of Saturday May 23, 2020, the Portsmouth Police Department is asking residents to notify the Police if they discover that they are missing a propane tank typically associated with a gas grill. We would also ask residents of the south side of the City to check any personal video surveillance systems for any suspicious activity between the hours of 12:30am and 3:30am.

            At approximately 8:15 AM on April 20th, 2020, Portsmouth Emergency Communications received a phone call stating that a male suspect had threatened a group of people with a firearm near the property of 1001 Islington Street. It was reported that the male suspect threatened these people verbally while displaying a firearm from inside of an apartment.

On the evening of February 27th 2020, the Portsmouth Police and Fire Departments responded to the area of Woodbury Ave and Dennett St for a traffic accident involving three vehicles. The scene stretched out approximately 100 yards of Woodbury Ave, where one vehicle landed in the back yard of 221 Woodbury Ave. Members of the Portsmouth Police Investigative Division responded to collect evidence and process the scene.

On February 27, 2020 at approximately 6:30 P.M. the Portsmouth Police and Fire Department responded to Woodbury Avenue, between Dennett Street and Cottage Street, for a three car motor vehicle crash.  There were three injuries and all three individuals were transported to the Portsmouth Regional Hospital.  Traffic was rerouted for a short time while the crash was investigated and this crash remains under investigation. 

February 11, 2020 is Safer Internet Day, which is a global event in more than 100 countries around the world, with this year’s theme being “Together for a better internet.”