In the next few weeks the Watertown Police Department will have access to new equipment that can capture images of license plates of passing cars. The technology is intended to help with criminal investigations, but some have expressed concerns about how it will be used, including the ACLU of Massachusetts. City Manager George Proakis provided information about the Flock Safety program to the City Council on Nov. 25. The Flock system was approved in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and eight cameras will be installed on major roadways in Watertown.
Police/Fire
Middlesex District Attorney Meets With Watertown Police in Effort to Cut Down Shoplifting
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Charlie BreitroseMiddlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan met with Watertown Police to focus on the rise in shoplifting in the area. Here she is pictured at an event where spoke at the Watertown Senior Center. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan joined a regular meeting between Watertown Police and security from local stores to find ways to curb the amount of shoplifting in town, and to prevent incidents from becoming more serious. Since 2022, the number of shopliftings in the City has steadily risen, with the vast majority occurring at the Watertown Mall and Arsenal Yards. In 2022, the WPD responded to around 400 shoplifting incidents, and in 2024 the number rose to 774, according to statistics collected by Watertown Police.
Police/Fire
Thief Steals $9,000 in Donations to Watertown Church
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Firefighters stand in the shadow of St. Patrick’s Church after Lt. Edward Walsh’s wake. Photo by Charlie Breitrose
Approximately $9,000 in donations were taken from St. Patrick’s Church, according to an announcement by the Watertown Police Department. The theft at the church located at 212 Main St., occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct.
Around Town
Watertown Police Offering Free Kits for Drivers With Autism or Who are Neurodivergent
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The Watertown Police recently added a new resource for neurodivergent people and their families that could help prevent misunderstandings and even tragedies. The WPD has joined the Blue Envelope program. The program was started a few years ago by the Massachusetts State Police, and the kits are now available at the Watertown Police Station, said Watertown Police Officer Devon Shatkin. “It’s essentially fostering safer relationships between individuals with autism who are drivers on the road and police officers,” Shatkin said. ” So, we’ve seen a much increased frequency of those type of interactions, and they can be difficult, dangerous, stressful.
Police/Fire
Police Log: Man Found Undressed in Apartment Building, Medicaid Scam
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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Oct. 9: A worker at an apartment building on Arsenal Street was told that someone saw a totally nude man in the hallway. The worker came across the man in the building’s stairwell who was wearing no shirt and his genitals were exposed. The worker was caught off guard, was shocked and alarmed.
Government
Three Watertown Football Players Honored for Helping to Catch a Drunken Driver
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(Screenshot from Boston 25 News)
Three sharp-eyed and quick thinking Watertown High School football players were honored for their effort that helped police locate and arrest a drunken driver. On Oct. 14, the City Council approved a proclamation honoring Riaz Khan, Joel Montoya, and Boran Akisik. On Sept. 25, the three were on their way home after practice witnessed a hit and run incident at the intersection of Palfrey and Pearl streets.
Police/Fire
Police Log: Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges, Business Scammed Out of $1.1 Million
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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Sept. 30: An elliptical machine and four monitors were left near a hydrant by the Community Path. Sept. 30: The Internet Crimes Against Children, a federal and state task force, alerted the Watertown Police about a case of child pornography.
Police/Fire
Police Log: Woman Busted for Texting While Driving, a Slew of Shopliftings
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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Sept. 19: A vacuum cleaner and a suitcase were abandoned on the side of the road on Brown Street. Sept. 20: A juvenile suspect was seen taking a Lego set priced at $245 from Target.
Police/Fire
Watertown Fire Department Will Welcome Public at Open House
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The Watertown Fire Department will host an open house on Oct. 11. Come join us for some fun, food, and live demonstrations. Learn about fire safety and what you can do to keep you friends, family, and pets safe. WHERE: Watertown Fire Headquarters, 99 Main St., Watertown
WHEN: Saturday, Oct.




