Portsmouth Police Department (Virginia)
The Portsmouth Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Portsmouth, Virginia. It has about 255 sworn law enforcement officers. Total strength to include dispatchers and non-sworn workers is about 380 employees.
In May 2019, Police Chief Tonya Chapman resigned from her position. She was replaced by Angela Greene who serves as interim chief.
History
Ten Portsmouth policemen have died in the line of duty, the first in 1871. Four of these died from gunshot wounds.Crime
Crime in the city is much higher than elsewhere in Virginia or the United States generally.| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Note | |
| Portsmouth Homicides, Number | 18 | 8 | 22 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 27 | 14 | See talk |
| Portsmouth Homicides, Rate | 17.8 | 8 | 21.8 | 17.8 | 16.8 | 14.7 | 16.8 | 14.1 | 12.4 | 11.4 | 13.4 | 9.3 | 28.2 | 14.6 | See talk |
| US Homicides, Rate | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.5 | N/A | N/A |