PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Police chiefs in two Hampton Roads cities are laying out their plans to tackle the crime plaguing some of their communities.
In a live-streamed chat with the Chief session on Facebook Tuesday evening, Newport News Police Chief Steve Drew answered our questions about the city's homicide rate.
Across the water in Portsmouth, Chief Stephen Jenkins became passionate at the podium while giving an update to the city council.
Both outlined crime statistics from this year and compared them to figures from the same time period last year.
Overall, they said non-fatal shootings are down in their respective cities; however, the numbers show just as many or more gun violence victims died from their injuries.
"Enough is enough," Chief Jenkins exclaimed during a special session in council chambers. Part of his message was that it's going to take everyone working together and putting differences aside to curb gun violence.
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"Let's be clear. These crimes are being committed within our city by individuals who look like me against individuals who look like me. This is a problem, and we need to be real with the conversation we're having," Jenkins added.
As of Sept. 17, 2023, the city has had 29 homicides. Portsmouth recorded 28 during the same time period last year.
However, Chief Jenkins also pointed out how some crime rates are slowing.
In his presentation, he gave insight on the time period between January 1 and and September 17. There was a 17.98% increase in violent crimes from 2021 to 2022. From 2022 to 2023, there has been 1.90% increase.
"Because we are in the fight. We are making strides within the city," he said.
Furthermore, Jenkins identified ABC store and car larcenies as some major challenges.
Meanwhile, Newport News has seen 35 homicides so far this year. That's four more than the tally for all of 2022.
"I'm concerned if we have one homicide. That's a loss of life," said Chief Drew. "How we're responding is we're staying vigilant."
Drew put the figures in perspective, saying 74% of the homicides this year involve people who know each other and roughly 40% happen inside cars or homes.
He said his officers are putting in work, "We've recovered or removed about 150 more firearms than we have this time last year."
- 650 illegal guns recovered this time last year
- 800 year-to-date in 2023, according to Drew
The chief also noted crime is down by double digits in areas like the Aqueduct Apartments and Marshall Courts.
"We've had a focus there," said Drew. "And it's not just been police. It's been grassroots organizations, it's been our churches, it's been our communities working together, apartment managers working with us."
Back in Portsmouth, council members unanimously approved to take steps toward forming a crime and gun violence prevention task force. The public will gain a better idea of what the group will look like and what exactly it will tackle on September 26. That's when council members are also expected to take a formal vote on whether to create it.