Police/Fire

Mountain Bikes, Youth Sports Part of Watertown’s Community Policing Efforts

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New Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn used to ride a mountain bike around town when he was a community police officer, and he has plans to bring the program back. 

This is one of part of the effort by the Watertown Police Department to make better connections with residents, Lawn told the Town Council on Saturday during his budget hearing. The mountain bike program is an effort to get police out of their patrol cars and interact with the public, said Lawn, who used to ride one himself in the 1990s. “I was assigned to Coolidge Square and I used to park my bike next to Dunkin’ Donuts and people come up and talk to you,” Lawn said. He examined a few bicycles and picked one that has an electric motor that can be used in case the officer has to get somewhere fast. “You still have to pedal, it’s not like a moped,” Lawn said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Are Taking Back Guns in Exchange for Gift Cards

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The Watertown Police Department will join other local police departments in a Gift Cards for Guns program. 

The gun-take-back event will be held on Saturday, June 18, at First Parish Church, 35 Church St., in Watertown. No IDs are required. “People can come turn their guns in, no questions asked, and we give them gift cards,” Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn said. The fire arms should be brought in unloaded with the safety engaged in a bag, box or case. Those taking part will receive a gift card ranging from $50-$200.

Fire

Two Alarm Fire Badly Damages Home on Howard Street

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Watertown Fire fighters put out a two-alarm fire that badly damaged one of three units of a house on Howard Street, and displaced five people. 

The fire was reported at 5:56 p.m. When Watertown firefighters and police arrived at 15 Howard St., it appeared the fire was just on the exterior of the building, but the flames had spread, said Watertown Fire Capt. Ryan Nicholson. “A gentleman was using a propane torch to weed his driveway and it caught some of the siding (on fire),” Nicholson said. “It extended into the interior.” The second alarm was called because the fire was in an area with other homes close by. The first police and firefighters on the scene were able to evacuate an older woman in a wheelchair before she suffered any injuries.

Arrests

Police Log: Men Busted After Seen Jumping Between Buildings, Watch & Cash Stolen

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 14, 8:40 p.m.: Police received a report that a group of men were on the roof of Subway in Watertown Square, and they were given a license plate. When they arrived, two men were in the car that matched the plate they were given. When officers spoke to the men, they explained that they were on top of Subway doing Parkour – where they jumped between roofs. While the spoke to the men, one man in the back seat appeared to be fidgeting with something.

Around Town

Oscar Winner, ‘Patriots Day’ Crew Take Over Home of a Watertown Police Officer

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese had some house guests in his Westside home this week – a whole crew of them, in fact – including an Oscar winning actor. 

One of the characters in the “Patriots Day” movie about the Boston Marathon Bombings is Pugliese, who was part of the shootout with the bombing suspects in Watertown. He will be portrayed by J.K. Simmons, who won an Academy Award for his role in “Whiplash,” and also appeared in the many other movie and television roles, including “Law & Order” and “The Closer.” Wednesday, the Pugliese household was taken over by film crews from CBS Films, to shot scenes for the film that will hit theaters in Boston, New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 2016.

Police/Fire

Fire that Destroyed 2 Cars in Watertown Garage Under Investigation

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A fire that erupted in the early hours of Friday morning and destroyed two cars at a Watertown home remains under investigation. The fire occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13 in a detached garage at a home on Phillips Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “When officers arrived the two car garage was fully engulfed (in flames),” O’Connor said. “They were able to evacuate residents and there were no injuries.” The garage had no doors on the front, and was made from metal.

Around Town

Fire Department Hosting Blood Drive for Boston Children’s Hospital

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The Watertown Fire Department invites to public to come donate blood during a drive for Boston Children’s Hospital. 

The blood drive will be held on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m at the Central Watertown Fire Station, 99 Main St. in Watertown. Be sure to bring an ID. To make an appointment please log onto halfpints.childrenshospital.org sponsor code for this drive is WATERFI or call Diego at 917-484-2982.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Men Face Charges After Drug Deal Goes Awry, Woman Uses Stolen Plates

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 6, 9 a.m.: Police received information that a man working at the Colonial GMC dealership was wanted on a warrant. The 30-year-old Jamaica Plain man was arrested on two warrants for larceny, one from Waltham District Court and one from Brighton District Court. May 9, 7:20 a.m.: An officer spotted a vehicle run a red light on Watertown Street at California Street. When the officer ran the registration the plates came back as stolen from Revere.