Portsmouth Officers Commended for Their Work

At a recent Police Commission meeting, Portsmouth Police Chief Steph DuBois recognized and lauded both Det. Josh McCain and Ofc. Charley Raizes for their work at the police department.

These two officers, according to Capt. Frank Warchol, “are an amazing example of the kind of officers employed at the Portsmouth Police Department who are incredibly dedicated to the community they serve.”

Det. Josh McCain

At about 10:15 p.m. on June 29, 2015, patrol officers responded to an armed robbery at the Mobil Mart on Woodbury Avenue. The suspect had held a large knife to the helpless store clerk’s abdomen before fleeing with cash from the safe. Det. McCain received the case the next day, and it became his highest priority. He reviewed surveillance images from the store and surrounding businesses. Det. McCain’s skilled review of the footage provided him with the suspect’s approach and escape routes. With that information, he conducted a canvass of the area and located critical evidence along the escape route.

By following up on witness statements and anonymous leads, Det. McCain was able to identify the robbery suspect, a man with a violent criminal history. He was able to secure an arrest warrant for him, and a search warrant for his home. While executing the search warrant, Det. McCain recovered even more evidence linking the suspect to the robbery. Once in custody, Det. McCain skillfully conducted a strategic interview, which resulted in a complete confession from the suspect.

Ofc. Charley Raizes

On Sept. 14, 2015 Officer Raizes was dispatched to I-95 southbound on the high level bridge which connects Maine to New Hampshire, for a report of a suicidal female who was threatening to jump from the bridge. He observed two vehicles parked in the southbound breakdown lane of the bridge. He then saw a woman exit the driver-side front door of one of the vehicles and make a deliberate beeline for the railing of the bridge. Officer Raizes raced from his vehicle and ran towards the woman, advising her to get away from the railing as he ran toward her. The woman refused his orders to back away from the railing, and attempted to climb over it. Officer Raizes grabbed the woman by the arm and pulled her off the railing and into the breakdown lane. The distraught woman resisted these actions by Officer Raizes, and continued to physically resist and assault Officer Raizes in the breakdown lane trying to free herself so she could jump. Ultimately Officer Raizes was able to restrain the woman with the assistance of her father, who was in the other vehicle, and other officers and effectively saved her life.