Portsmouth city leaders and law enforcement agencies gathered Tuesday at City Hall to present a united front for stopping violence in the city, laying out prevention initiatives and calling on the public to step up and help. But numerous attendees said more needs to be done to bring everyone together.
Multiple officials urged the public: “If you see something, say something.” They also pledged to bring community groups and activists to the table to work at the city’s problems with crime. They said the task in front of them could not just be solved by police — they would need the help of everyone in the city and even surrounding cities and state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Portsmouth Police Chief Renado Prince said residents should intervene or call for help if they see someone preparing to do something wrong. Prince has emphasized community policing to build up trust, an essential step, he said, in bringing police closer to residents.
Since the City Council resumed meeting in person in June, residents have come forward at every meeting to lament the violence in the city and urge leaders to address it. Some community activists came together to organize a demonstration after City Manager Angel Jones said a full strategy would take six months to develop.
Mayor Shannon Glover said he wanted to emphasize to those residents, “You have been heard.”
Jones said that an effective strategy would take time and research, but the city could take some steps immediately. The city has partnered with schools to extend after school programs later into the evening. Law enforcement has started clearing blighted properties and intervening at homes where crime frequently happens. Jones said the city will launch an ambassador program in which community members offer support and guidance to youth and families.
She said the city has also gone to neighborhood groups to address issues they’ve reported, such as bad lighting. Jones said the city has also come to the table with the Act Now Coalition, a group of activists, clergy and others that discusses violence intervention and prevention.
The American Rescue Plan Act has put about $28 million into Portsmouth’s coffers, and another $28 million is on the way. Jones presented a general spending plan for that money to the City Council Sept. 14, highlighting money she suggested ought to go to public safety initiatives, such as a homeless shelter, new police vehicles and grants for community organizations. She said the council can immediately start allocating that money, so she plans to put together proposals for the members to consider adopting at the Sept. 28 meeting.
Barry Randall, an activist who has previously called on the City Council to come together, asked everyone coming to that table to set aside egos and personal problems. He noted that four City Council members were not at the event.
Glover announced the news conference at the Sept. 14 City Council meeting, and three City Council members indicated they were not informed of the event and felt they should have been involved with planning it. Vice Mayor De’Andre Barnes said in an email that he would not attend the event because he did not feel there was a concrete plan to address crime, calling the event “lip service.” He also felt the news conference was an example of Glover being unwilling to work with all council members.
Glover declined to comment on Barnes’ email.
Darrell Redmond, who organized a rally in July demanding immediate action to address violence, said he didn’t feel the city was doing enough to bring in the community. He also wanted to see what the city has developed so far for a long-term plan, along with more specific strategies.
Josh Reyes, 757-247-4692, joreyes@dailypress.com
