PORTSMOUTH, Va. — People who live and work in Portsmouth want to put an end to violent crime.
Police Chief Stephen Jenkins addressed the issue at a forum Wednesday. He said although violent crime is down from last year, the department needs more officers and the public's help reporting crimes.
Watch: Portsmouth PD chief addresses recent crime; says he needs 90 more officers
After a recent series of crimes in the downtown area, business owners hope for quick action too.
This week they voiced concerns to the city and police saying violent crime should be considered a public emergency.
On High Street on Thursday, business owners told News 3 they heard gunshots over the weekend. A man was injured in a shooting Oct. 20 between Court and Middle Streets.
Watch: Portsmouth residents outraged by recent cases of violence across the city
Others who work along that city block said the weekend shooting was just one of several violent incidents that have hit too close to home.
One worker told News 3 her relative was injured by a stray bullet a few blocks away on London Street two weekends ago. She did not want to be identified out, fearing she could becoming a target.
Chief Jenkins said that incident started as a fight in a parking garage.
"It's important to know we have a victim who was minding her business asleep in her home," Jenkins said. "And based on activities that were going on in the city that night, based on basic conflict resolution that was not used that night, we had a bullet go through a wall and shoot someone."
Watch: Shooting in Downtown Portsmouth sends man to the hospital
We're told the victim is recovering and police are looking for suspects in that case. They ask anyone with information on that case and other cases to come forward.
Police encourage residents to use the Police to Citizen resource for reporting incidents.
"I implore individuals that have information that relates to gun violence and homicides please . . . reach out to us and provide that information," said Jenkins.
Further down on High Street you'll find Tony Goodwin's Market Street and General Store. He's frustrated by the violence too.
"Just like any other downtown urban area, people come down, they have a good time, they get a little rowdy," said Goodwin.
Watch: Fresh market opens in Portsmouth's downtown to help fill need
He and others in Portsmouth don't want these incidents to drive people away, especially as the city's been actively working to bring in more businesses to the newly-named Innovation District in the High Street Corridor.
So business owners asked the city to put some limits on late-night establishments until the police department is more fully staffed. That suggestion is in addition to other work in the citymeant to address the root causes of violence.
And business owners want the public to know the area is taken seriously as a safe and family-friendly space.
"We have overcome the stigma of a downtown a long time ago. This is just a bump in the road that we want to make sure is taken care of expeditiously," said Goodwin.
Watch: Portsmouth police address the community on crime reduction efforts
That's backed up by a decrease in violent crime in the city. Police said violent crime, which includes murder, rape, and robbery, is down 15 percent this year between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2024 when compared to the same time frame last year.
Though police did see increases in other types of crime, like shootings into occupied dwellings.
Business owners, of course, hope crime rates continue to fall as they look forward to a busy autumn season.
