Police/Fire

Watertown Police Announces Promotions, Swearing In of New Officers

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The Watertown Police recently announced the promotion of two of its officers, and the swearing in of two new recruits. Chief Michael P. Lawn announced the promotions of Sgt. Kenneth C. Delaney to the rank to lieutenant and Officer Kenneth J. Swift to the rank of sergeant. A swearing inceremony was held at the Watertown Police Station on February 2, 2016. Lt. Delaney has been a police officer for the last 23 years, working for the Shrewsbury and Westford Police Departments prior to becoming a Watertown Police Officer in 2007. Lt. Delaney’s new assignment will be as a shift commander in the night patrol division.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Attacked by Fellow Massage Student, Rims and Wheels Stolen

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Feb. 29, 9:45 p.m.: Police served a warrant and Edward Road. The 43-year-old Watertown man was arrested on the warrant from Waltham District Court related to an OUI charge. March 2, 4:50 p.m.: A woman was spotted placing several items into a shopping cart at Target and walked out of the store without paying.

Armed Robbery

Pair Arrested After Drug Deal Turns into an Armed Robbery

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Two Waltham men were arrested for allegedly setting up the robbery of a third man who thought he was meeting them to buy some marijuana. On March 5, a man from Waltham met his friend at Tedeschi’s on Main Street, and they then headed to the field house at Moxley Field, where the man planned on purchasing drugs. A few minutes later, two men showed up, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “The victim was,grabbed by the shirt and thrown to the concrete,” O’Connor said. “The man then ran back toward Tedeschi’s”

The men followed.

Lt. Ed Walsh

Federal Report Blames Lack of Training, Staffing for Death of Lt. Ed Walsh in 2014

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A federal investigation of the 2014 Back Bay fire that killed Lt. Ed Walsh of Watertown and firefighter Michael Kennedy placed part of the blame on lack of training and also insufficient staffing. 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report also found that there was a delay in alerting the Boston Fire Department of the fire, ventilation of the fire by civilians and a lack of sprinklers and lack of fire hydrant on the rear of the building near the fire. See a the detailed report here from the WCVB Channel 5 website. Among the 15 recommendations are:

Fire command do an assessment of the risk before fully deploying firefighters
Train for dealing with wind-driven fires
Ensure for proper staffing for fighting a fire in a congested urban area
Have checklist to follow in the event of a mayday event
Integrate the latest firefighting research into the tactics used by the fire department
Personnel should all wear a fire-fighting protective hood at all structure fires
Consider requiring sprinkler systems in residential buildings

The report also has a detailed timeline of the fire that killed the two Boston firefighters. Watertown honored Walsh with a funeral, which drew thousands of firefighters from around the country, and shutdown Main Street for a few days.

Government

Warm Weather Brings Early End to Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban

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Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn announced a suspension of the overnight parking ban in Watertown on Wednesday. 

With unseasonable warm weather and no snow in the long term forecast, Town Council President asked Lawn and Department of Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee to end the parking ban early, Sideris said Tuesday night. The end of the ban is effective on Wednesday night, but the Police Department asked residents to continue to park off the street to allow emergency vehicles to pass more easily.

Police/Fire

Two Men Busted for Drug Possession After Driver Found Slumped at Wheel

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Two men face drug charges after police found them in a car stopped in the middle of a street near Watertown Square, with the driver asleep at the wheel. On March 3, at 11 p.m., Watertown Police received a report of a car blocking the intersection of Spring and Summer streets. When police arrived they found the vehicle had moved a few blocks to Spring and Palfrey streets, but the driver was slumped behind the wheel, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Officer were able to wake the operator. A witness said he had been like that for about 8 minutes,” O’Connor said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Strange Man Approaches Middle School Students

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Feb. 25, 7:10 p.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a car run a red light going from Mt. Auburn Street to North Beacon Street. After stopping the vehicle, the officer checked the driver’s record and found he had a suspended license.

Drug Arrests

Watertown Police Arrest Three Drug Suspects in Two Different Incidents

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The Watertown Police, working with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force, made two busts and arrested three suspects. On Feb. 23 at 12:20 p.m., police spotted a suspected drug dealer getting into a car in a parking lot on Mt. Auburn Street, drive around for a while and stop in the parking lot of the Arsenal Project, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Members of the Task Force observed what they believed to be a narcotics transaction,” O’Connor said.