Portsmouth’s First Ward Councilman — and former mayor — Sean Dunne is pushing for a new citizen-led watchdog group that could keep an eye on both the police and the city’s 911 system.
At Monday’s City Manager’s conference meeting, Dunne will pitch creating a Human Relations Committee modeled after Dayton’s long-running Human Relations Council. Dayton’s version enforces civil rights, supports minority- and woman-owned businesses, and works to calm tensions between the public and city agencies.
Dunne says Portsmouth’s version could start small — either by expanding the current Fair Housing Committee or creating a brand-new oversight board. The mission would be to give residents a direct voice in city policy, investigate complaints, and help resolve conflicts before they blow up.
The proposal also includes hiring an independent firm to audit Portsmouth’s 911 calls — looking at how emergencies are handled and finding ways to improve response.
Could it work here? Dayton has more people, more money, and decades of experience. Portsmouth would have to scale it to local needs and make sure the community actually wants it.
Dunne has never been afraid to push controversial ideas. His previous proposals — from declaring Portsmouth a Transgender Sanctuary City to decriminalizing marijuana before the state did — have sparked fierce debate. He’s also fought to get rehab centers to release client data to determine their impact on local homelessness.
Monday’s meeting will decide whether this police-and-911 watchdog moves forward or gets shut down before it ever reaches City Council.
