Press Releases/What’s New

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.

On July 30th, 2020, the following subject was arrested by the Dover New Hampshire Police Department on two alternate theory charges of Sexual Assault. The charges are a result of an incident that occurred in Portsmouth on July 28th when it is alleged the suspect assaulted a juvenile while walking on a city street.

CODY GIGLIOTTI – Age 26

No Fixed Address

On July 20, 2020 at approximately 1:00am, the Portsmouth Police Department received a call from an Elwyn Ave resident about a male who was seen going through his car. A detailed description of the male was given, and moments later patrol officers located the male on Brackett Lane. The male was pushing a scooter, later determined to be stolen from a Haven Rd address. The male fled on foot at the sight of the officer and was immediately apprehended. Officers canvased the area and learned that the male had also gone through several vehicles where items were taken.

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.