Tracy Park, already known for frequent disturbances, became the scene of yet another troubling incident—one that highlights the growing strain on local law enforcement as they deal with mental health issues in public spaces.
Visitors were shocked to see a naked woman leaving the park and walking east toward the Salvation Army. Witnesses said she later covered herself with a blanket before heading toward Domino’s Pizza and then returning to the park.
When officers arrived, they arrested Cynthia McCreary for disorderly conduct and public indecency.
While the incident may seem bizarre on the surface, it’s part of a larger and more troubling pattern. Police in Portsmouth are frequently called to deal with mental health-related emergencies, often involving individuals in distress with nowhere to go and no access to treatment.
With limited local resources for mental health care and addiction, officers are often the first—and sometimes only—response. What should be a medical or social service issue frequently ends in handcuffs.
The incident at Tracy Park is another reminder of the urgent need for more mental health support in the community, so law enforcement isn’t left alone to manage a crisis they weren’t trained to solve.
