PORTSMOUTH CRIME PREVENTION PLAN TO BE UPDATED

PORTSMOUTH, VA — The Portsmouth Crime Prevention Plan is a living document created with collaboration from all available city resources, maintained, operated, and updated by the Portsmouth Police Department in cooperation with other city entities. During the next several months, the Portsmouth Police department will be reviewing that plan and making further changes with our partners. We will consider new ideas and proven crime reduction methods. As we move forward, we want to highlight some of the actions already taken by the PPD and Portsmouth Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, and other upcoming projects.

Community Engagement & Patrol

The PPD has increased its patrol in high-crime areas and downtown. And it has increased its numbers through MUD (Maximum Uniform Deployment), where all overhead staff members are required to work at least two shifts twice a month. The PPD has increased its attendance at Civic League Meetings and community events. It has increased Directed Patrols, Foot Patrols, and Bike Patrols to create more community interaction. And the Virginia State Police has agreed to join local police on regular patrols throughout the city.

The PPD has increased community engagement and awareness through several regular programs and events like Community Engagement Walks, Monthly Chief’s Corner Videos, Quarterly Chief’s Forums, and monthly Coffee with a Cop. It’s also developed training videos for reporting crimes and “What to Do” videos for City employees and the public.

The Portsmouth Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (PFRES) has a deep-rooted tradition within the community as does the PPD. PFRES believes that being a part of the community starts with immersing ourselves in the neighborhoods before an emergency happens. This is accomplished by partnering with the PPD during community walks, showing a presence at all community events like festivals and concerts, and partnering with grassroots organizations like Big Homies, Back to Da Block, and Stop the violence 757. Over the last year, PFRES has attended dozens of community parties, clean-up events, and even birthday parties to show the community we are all in this together and believe in this community.

Operation Red Ball

This was a Combined Taskforce with PPD, ATF, FBI, DEA, VASP, and US Marshalls Service. In response to the increase in violence in Portsmouth, the PPD has implemented a Red Ball emergency response. The PPD temporarily suspended all secondary functions within the organization. All off-duty personnel were recalled, and all overhead staff positions were reassigned to task force operations. The newly formed Task Force focused on violence suppression and gun seizures in statistically high activity areas. Although this large-scale operation ended, Red Ball Mini-surges continue at unspecified times in strategic areas.

Operation Safe Neighborhoods

The PPD is partnering with US Attorney General’s Office, ATF, FBI, DEA, and the US Marshalls Service to enact Operation Safe Neighborhoods. Additional partners are the Mayor of Portsmouth, the City Manager, DSS, Behavioral Health, Public Housing, and Faith-Based Leaders. Operation Safe Neighborhoods is a holistic approach to crime reduction. It brings together community stakeholders, law enforcement, and some of our most vulnerable people. It has four principles: Community, Prevention & Intervention, Strategic Enforcement, and Accountability. Visit the US Department of Justice Website for more information about this program: Project Safe Neighborhoods | Department of Justice

Violence Interrupters and Trauma Counseling

The City has introduced Violence Interrupters who intervene before violent crime and after the occurrence of violent crime to reduce the likelihood of retaliation. This includes a Trauma Counselor to help victims of violent crime and their families. These individuals have been a great help to the community. Taking part in large charitable efforts and regularly participating in community events.

School Safety

School Resource Officers (SROs) have also been placed in Portsmouth Schools to create a point of contact for students. PPD has obtained a grant for the GREAT program (a gang-resistance program) and the RESPECT program (a program that promotes safe and healthy relationships). All SROs have undergone RESPECT and GREAT training. PPD also partnered with Portsmouth Public Schools to develop an Emergency Operations Plan for the safety of the students and faculty. PPD maintains an active PAL Program with board members. It’s headed by a police officer who facilitates meetings and organizes and directs activities for youth.

PFRES and the PPD will be holding a joint Public Safety Academy in August of 2022 to show 13–18-year-olds the different areas within Public Service.

Investigation and On-Scene Efforts

The PPD has added personnel to the Investigation Bureau to increase clearance rates. It’s also requested that the Crime Stopper award be increased from $1000 to $5000 for murder cases. In partnership with the ATF and other Hampton Roads Law Enforcement Agencies, PPD acquired access to NIBIN (gun ballistics tracing). The City of Portsmouth has also begun to acquire ShotSpotter, which would augment police resources and decrease response times to shots fired calls and save lives.

The PPD is also partnering with the FBI to help identify repeat offenders that are worthy of Federal attention for prosecution and elevate their status so that they are subject to federal prosecution. A special detail was formed to crack down on catalytic converter theft, several arrests have been made.

PFRES always stresses the importance of situational awareness. From a response standpoint, the safety of personnel is paramount. Their employees know to wait for Police to secure a scene as relates to violence before approaching, this ensures safety. Additionally, in any threat of an active situation, Fire personnel have ballistic protection in each apparatus that can be worn during scene size-up and patient care. Our Ambulances carry top-of-the-line medical countermeasures to treat victims of violence or our Police teammates and ensure the best possible patient outcomes possible.

Crisis Response Team (CRT)

A dedicated Crisis Response Team has been created. This is a collaboration with Fire, Police, Behavioral Health, and Social Services. CRT is a patient-centered, innovative delivery model offering on-demand, needs-based care, and preventive services, delivered in the patient’s home or mobile environment. This will help curve opioid abuse and prevent overdoses, provide mental health services, and implement care for an aging population. Ultimately, this reduces the load on our EMS, Fire, Dispatch, Police, DHS, BHS, and Hospital workers by preventing and addressing common recurring areas of concern.

Operation Ceasefire Portsmouth

This is a new Gun Violence Intervention grant that the PPD is trying to acquire. It will further previous efforts from the Gun Violence Intervention Program Grant acquired in 2021. We are currently working on a video project in collaboration with the City Marketing and Video Team and Stop the Violence 757. These videos highlight local parents who have lost their children to gun violence in Portsmouth. Three parents have already been interviewed. The videos will be part of a campaign to prevent gun violence and encourage citizens to help us solve homicides by sending in anonymous tips. These videos are still under production.