Charity

Watertown Police Hurricane Relief Drive Brings in Donations From Far and Wide

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When a call for donations for the victims of Hurricane Harvey went out from the Watertown Police and Fire department in late August, people responded in droves from Watertown and communities as far away as Plymouth. 

By Thursday afternoon, half of the Police Department’s sally port – which can fit at least four cars – was filled with cans of food, diapers, shampoo, pet food and much more. The donations were picked up by a truck from a group teaming up with Curt Schilling’s foundation, Operation Bullpen. Maria Carrion, a Watertown emergency dispatcher who helped organize the drive, said people from all over starting bringing items to the Police Station. “People at different companies, different high schools, not just from Watertown, started doing their own collections and bringing it here,” Carrion said. Officer Rick Munger, who also organized the effort, said Watertown’s hurricane collection got good publicity.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: 3 Injured, 16 Lose Home in Fire Near Watertown/Newton Line

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Firefighters from six communities battled heavy smoke and flames, the elements and a broken hydrant to put a three-alarm fire on Williams Street, Thursday night. The alarm for the blaze at 27 Williams St. came in at about 6 p.m., and when the Watertown Fire Department arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the back of the three-story, multi-family home, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Rob Iannetta. Locating the fire, however, was not so easy. “Smoke was showing in the back but the fire was actually in the front,” Iannetta said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Home Broken Into While Resident Vacationed, Man Harasses Police by Phone

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 28, 3:30 a.m.: Police were called to a Robert Ford Road residence for a report of a disturbance. While speaking with the parties involved, police discovered that one had an outstanding warrant. The 59-year-old woman from Watertown was arrested for a warrant from Waltham District Court.

Police/Fire

Watertown’s Fallen Firefighter Added to Mass. Fallen Firefighter Memorial

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Yesterday afternoon Firefighter Joseph Toscano, who died in the line of duty in March, was added to the Ring of Honor at the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighter Memorial located behind the State House. #massachusetts #fire #lodd @massgovernor @the_pffm
A post shared by Capt. Ryan Nicholson (@watertownfire) on Sep 9, 2017 at 7:24am PDT

Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano’s name was added to the memorial to firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Toscano died while fighting a fire on Merrifield Avenue on March 17, 2017. On Friday, his colleagues attended the ceremony at the Massachusetts Fallen Firefighters Memorial outside the State House in Boston. Gov. Charlie Baker spoke at the 1oth annual ceremony.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Pay Tribute to Those Lost on Sept. 11, 2001

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Members of the Watertown Fire Department stood at attention for a moment of silence Monday morning to pay respect to the 343 firefighters who died 16 years ago when the Twin Towers came down. During the brief ceremony, which has become a tradition at Watertown Fire Headquarters on the anniversary of 9/11, Firefighter Paul Locker rang the bell on a fire engine to mark the final alarm for the lost firefighters. Locker, a 29-year veteran firefighter, said he was working with an ambulance company on Sept. 11, 2001. “I got in at 8 a.m. and heard about the first plane.

2001

Watertown Fire Will Remember the Firefighters Lost in 9/11 Attacks

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On Monday morning, the Watertown Fire Department will honor the New York Firefighters lost in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Monday marks the 16th anniversary of the attacks and destruction of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The Watertown Fire Department will hold a brief ceremony to remember the 343 FDNY firefighters lost on 9/11. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Fire Headquarters on Main Street in Watertown Square.

Police/Fire

Former Watertown Police Officer Denied Pension After Judge Reverses Lower Court Ruling

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A former Watertown Police officer will be denied his pension after a ruling by a Middlesex Superior Court judge. Joseph Deignan, a Framingham resident who was a sergeant in the WPD, plead guilty to  using a person’s identification – which he obtained in his role as supervisor of the Traffic Division – to fraudulently get prescription drugs. He was arrested in December 2012 in Marlborough and plead guilty in Federal Court in August 2013 and was sentenced to three months in prison and was fined. As a result, in November 2013, the Watertown Retirement Board started proceeding to have Deignan’s pension forfeited because he was found guilty of “a criminal offense involving violation of laws applicable to his office or position,” according to court documents. Deignan appealed the decision in District Court, and a judge reversed the Retirement Board’s ruling in June 2015.

Arrests

Police Log: Car Thief Caught, Woman Busted on 4th OUI Charge

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Aug. 21, 7:15 p.m.: An employee at Toyota of Watertown was moving a car onto Arsenal Street and when he opened the door a passing van struck the door and just missed the man. The white van kept going toward Brighton, and it had distinctive markings. Police stopped the van and found that the driver had a suspended license.