CopBlog: Portsmouth N.H. Police Blog

Meet Bruin, Portsmouth NH’s new K-9

E Dinan — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:46:31 +0000

Just 14-months old, Bruin is a German Shepherd working with Portsmouth NH K-9 Officer Scott Pearl to sniff out drugs, find lost children and elderly people and keep the community safe while we’re sleeping. Bruin was introduced to the Portsmouth Police Commission and guests on April 20, 2011. See the the reaction, particularly from Portsmouth Patrol Officer Nick Small’s six children, here.

Free tour of the county jail, ride in a cruiser, face time with a police K-9, and more

E Dinan — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:56:32 +0000

The Portsmouth Police Department will be hosting our 4th annual Citizens Police Academy that will be sponsored by Seacoast Crime Stoppers. This collaborative effort will involve the seacoast communities and police departments of Greenland, Rye, Newington and New Castle will begin March 22nd, 2011. Applications are available at the participating police departments or on the Seacoast Crime Stoppers website at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.

The goals of the Citizens Police Academy are:

To bring citizens closer to their police departments.
To bring a greater understanding of the role of the Police officer in the community.
To provide a forum to address community concerns direct to the Police Departments.
To expand the knowledge of laws and police procedure of the participants.
To increase the public awareness of crime prevention techniques.

Topics to Be Discussed

Session 1 Location Portsmouth Police Department.

Welcome and introductions
Waiver completions/overview of Academy
History of Law Enforcement and Portsmouth PD
Officer Selection and Police Academy
Seacoast Crime Stoppers overview
Tour of Portsmouth Police Department

Session 2 Location Portsmouth Police Department.

Motor Vehicle Law
DWI and Field Sobriety
Overview of the Detective Division
District Court Judge Visit

Session 3 Location Newington Police Department.

Shooting Simulator
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Elements of Crime
Probable Cause
Search and Seizure
K-9 Demonstration
Tour of Newington PD

Session 4 Location Portsmouth Police Department.

Domestic Violence
Restraining orders
Violence prevention
Defensive tactics/OC/Taser
SERT Demo

Session 5 Location Greenland Police Department.

Safe driving-Michelle Norton Video
Seatbelt use and the convincer demo
Bicycle patrol
Motorcycle patrols
Radar operation
In cruiser camera operations
Tour of Greenland PD
Family Court Judge Visit

Session 6 Location Rye Police Department.

Narcotics Investigations
Evidence collection
Tour of Rye PD

Session 7 Location New Castle Police Department.

Tour of New Castle PD
Tour of Coast Guard Station and Boat
Tour of Rockingham County Jail

Session 8 Location Portsmouth Police Department and/or City Hall Council Chambers.

Review
Evaluation
Slide Show
Graduation

In addition, each participant would be expected to attend 2 hours in a Court as an observer as well as 4 hours of ride along sometime during the 8 week academy. A participant is allowed to miss one session and still complete academy.

THERE IS NO FEE that will be charged to the participants. The course outline is subject to change based on availability and department activity that day.

For more information you can contact Sergeant Tom Grella or Deputy Chief Stephen DuBois at the Portsmouth Police Department at 603-610-7612 or e-mail at Citizenspoliceacademy@pd.cityofportsmouth.com or on the web at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org.

Released by Deputy Chief Stephen DuBois for Police Chief David J. Ferland.

Snow-blocked door be damned, state employee went through window to get to work

E Dinan — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:34:56 +0000

The Blizzard of 2010 Best Employee Award goes to Bunny Clark, civil clerk at Portsmouth District Court.

When Bunny discovered drifting snow prevented her from exiting her home Monday morning, she shimmied out a window to get to her job at the city courthouse. And, we might add, looking fabulous as usual wearing heels and a silk scarf tied around her turtleneck sweater.

There were other dedicated employees at the courthouse in the midst of the blizzard, including security officers, a judge who interrupted a vacation to do arraignments and clerks who kept the wheels greased, unlike the wimpy courts that closed in neighboring states.

Portsmouth Police continue to operate under budget

E Dinan — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:54:02 +0000

The Portsmouth Police Commission met Wednesday night when Chief Lou Ferland and Commission Chairman Jerry Howe announced they intend to meet the City Council’s mandate of a level budget.

Also during Wednesday’s Police Commission meeting, Capt. Frank Warchol reported that the police department is 41 percent through the fiscal year and has spent 38 percent of its budget. That, said Warchol, means police are currently operating under budget.

In September, the police department returned $190,000 in unspent monies to the city’s general fund from the last fiscal year. The $190,000 was from fiscal year 2010 when police details for an August 2009 visit by President Barack Obama cost between $10,000 and $15,000 and a nine-hour bomb scare involving a Greyhound bus on May 6 cost the department an unanticipated $13,000.

The surplus was attributed by the department to “creative” budgeting, which included hosting police training sessions for departments around the state, allowing local officers to receive the same training at no cost. Police Commission chairman Jerry Howe previously commended the department for its “frugality” and “management skills.”

UNH named #1 “druggiest” college in the country

E Dinan — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:41:40 +0000

The Daily Beast claims it searched stats to determine which college campuses have environments “permissive of drug use” and a student population which partakes in illegal drug use.

It ranked the University of New Hampshire #1 in the nation. Natch, the university objects.

Story at Daily Beast online.

FBI warns Barbie doll could produce child porn

E Dinan — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:46:38 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a “cybercrime alert” about a new Barbie doll with a video camera hidden inside the doll’s necklace.

The feds warn the camera could be used to record child pornography, but caution there are not any reported crimes.

Full story by NPR here.

Police: Teen who stole from cars, previously arrested for arson

E Dinan — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 22:42:47 +0000

The Portsmouth Police Department issued the following press release Saturday afternoon:

On December 2^nd, 2010 at about 6:15 PM Portsmouth Patrol Officers and Detectives arrested two subjects on numerous charges resulting in a theft from a motor vehicle. A third suspect, a female, was questioned and released. Additional charges for her involvement are forthcoming.

Detectives and Officers were on routine patrol on Hanover Street when they witnessed two subjects acting suspiciously around a vehicle parked near the intersection of Hanover and Fleet Street. The two suspects were then observed reaching into the vehicle, removing several items and then run from the area. Officers quickly apprehended the two subjects along with a female who accompanied them on Hanover Street. Recovered at the scene were items stolen from the vehicle along with other items stolen during previous thefts. All three were then transported to Portsmouth Police Headquarters.

The two suspects arrested and charged are as follows;

NATHAN HARNDEN

17 YEARS OF AGE

979 MAPLEWOOD AVE

PORTSMOUTH NH

Charged with –

Theft

Possession of Tobacco Products by a Minor

3 Counts of Receiving Stolen Property

Conspiracy

Harnden was released on $5000 PR bail with an arraignment date of January 3^rd, 2011.

CODY BUSSIERE

18 YEARS OF AGE

113 MANSON AVE

KITTERY MAINE

Charged with:

Criminal Liability for Conduct of Another

Conspiracy

2 Counts – Receiving Stolen Property

Bussiere was released on $3500 PR bail with an arraignment date of January 3^rd, 2011.

He was also arrested earlier this year for arson. That story here.

The Portsmouth Police Department strongly encourages that people lock there vehicles at all times and conceal any valuable items from view particularly during the holiday season.

Please call Seacoast Crime Stoppers if you wish to remain anonymous and have information on unsolved crimes or under age alcohol parties. You can also leave an anonymous tip by logging on to www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org or send an SMS text to CRIMES (274637) and include TIPSCS in your message. You could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest and indictment.

One of the year’s best police calls

E Dinan — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 22:19:44 +0000

Portsmouth police were called Thanksgiving eve by a gentleman who said he “picked up” a woman “last night” and a day later couldn’t get her to leave.

Dispatcher to patrol officers: He said he doesn’t know her last name.

Harley rider seriously injured after crashing through dealership door

E Dinan — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 23:56:18 +0000

By Elizabeth Dinan

edinan@seacoastonline.com

NORTH HAMPTON — A Mass. man is in serious condition after crashing his Harley Davidson through a garage door at Seacoast Harley-Davidson Wednesday afternoon, said Police Chief Brian Page.

Full story here.

A tongue ring, an ambulance and a hospital visit

E Dinan — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 23:16:31 +0000

Portsmouth’s emergency medical technicians were dispatched to Gosling Meadows Tuesday night for a call about a woman in medical distress due to her tongue piercing. The 6 p.m. caller reported the woman’s tongue ring became dislodged before she accidentally swallowed it.

The woman was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for unspecified treatment.