Portsmouth City Council Work Session with Crime and Gun Violence Reduction Task Force - June 9, 2025

This was a public work session between the Portsmouth City Council and the Crime and Gun Violence Reduction Task Force, held on June 9, 2025. The task force presented its progress since its formation in November 2024, and the council discussed the role of the task force, the need for a consultant, community engagement efforts, data collection, communication challenges, and the development of a mobile app.

Discussion Items

• Task Force Overview and Committee Structure: Task Force Chairman Jalen Jerry reported that the task force first met in November 2024 and focused on building structure from December to February 2025. Four committees were established: Community Engagement, Resource Allocation, Data and Metrics, and Intervention. The task force seeks clarity on whether its role is advisory or working, and requests alignment with council expectations.

• Consultant/Project Manager Need: Councilman Hugo, a council liaison to the task force, explained that efforts to procure a consultant to guide the task force have stalled. An initial request for proposals received only one respondent, and a second round received none. An unsolicited proposal from a Hampton-based group was deemed insufficiently experienced. Councilman Hugo emphasized that the task force needs an expert to help organize its work into a comprehensive action plan. Councilwoman Thomas asked if a project manager could serve a similar coordinating function. Councilman Moody expressed caution about waiting for an outside consultant and urged the task force to continue work using local expertise and partnerships.

• Role of the Task Force: City Attorney Levonda Graham Williams clarified that the task force can act as both an advisory body and a working group, depending on the direction of the data and information. Councilman Hugo noted that the task force was created to develop a comprehensive action plan, and that the work of gathering information through committees is part of that advisory process. The task force should build the plan, and then city staff and community partners would implement it.

• Community Engagement: Task force members described attending civic league meetings to listen to residents. Eugene Swinson reported that Craddock residents expressed concerns about loitering at Afton Square, while other neighborhoods had different issues. The task force is developing a neighborhood assessment questionnaire and a calendar of civic league meetings to ensure consistent feedback. Councilman Tillage supported using neighborhood assessments to capture data and shape the citywide plan.

• Data and Metrics: Sarah Ray noted that she has been unable to access city email, limiting her ability to share information. Keith Rice expressed interest in obtaining court and probation data to understand recidivism and age demographics of offenders. The task force has been compiling a database of existing services and programs.

• Communication and Public Information: Eugene Swinson emphasized the importance of providing context to the public after incidents (e.g., the shooting of four teens at Craddock Park was not a graduation party but a gathering after a party was shut down in Norfolk). Councilwoman Bryant stressed the need for a marketing campaign about the task force's work. Task Force Chairman Jerry noted that cities like Baltimore have dedicated personnel to publicly discuss incidents after facts are confirmed. Councilman Hugo mentioned a mobile app under development by city staff Chantel Matthews, which will serve as a hub for resources and citizen reporting, similar to a "Click Fix for crime." Councilwoman Thomas cautioned about app overload, as the city already has several apps.

• IT and Email Issues: Several task force members reported difficulty accessing city email, forcing them to use personal devices despite earlier instructions not to. Councilman Hugo requested that the deputy city manager arrange for IT to sweep and resolve all members' email access. The city attorney reminded members to go through the city manager for such issues.

• Stakeholder Involvement: Councilman Dotson stressed the importance of including all stakeholders, particularly the Commonwealth's Attorney's office. Task force members indicated they have not yet reached out, but discussed examples from other cities (e.g., Roanoke) where task forces included 25+ members from multiple agencies. The council encouraged the task force to use its commission status to request department heads and stakeholder participation through the city manager.

Key Outcomes

• The council committed to resolving IT and email access issues for task force members promptly.
• The task force plans to continue attending civic league meetings and develop a neighborhood assessment tool to capture resident concerns.
• The development of a mobile app for resources and reporting is in its final stages, with stakeholder meetings scheduled.
• The council affirmed the importance of the task force's work and directed city staff to support its efforts, including potential consultant or project manager hiring as a top priority.
• The mayor emphasized the need for consistent communication and "one voice" from the city regarding safety initiatives, and promised to improve coordination.
• No formal votes were taken; the meeting served as a discussion and information-sharing session.