Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/policefire/page/148/?sfw=pass1698265555)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Oct. 13, 12:24 p.m.: A woman was spotted taking a set of sheets and a coffee-flavored milk from Target and leaving without paying. Store security had video of the same woman also taking a Keurig coffee maker on Sept. 15.
The Watertown Firefighters have announced their endorsements for Town Council in the upcoming Town Election, and not surprisingly none of the councilors who voted down the arbitration agreement in December made the list.
Rob Mannix, president of Local 1347 Watertown Fire Union, announced the endorsements this week on his Facebook page. Earlier this year, the Fire Union sent out questionnaires to Council Candidates (click here to see details). The firefighters endorsed the following candidates in the Nov. 3 election:
Town Council President – Clyde Younger
District A – Bob Erickson
District B – Lisa Feltner
District C – Rossella Mercuri
Councilors at large – Tony Palomba, Patryce Georgopolous, and Michael Dattoli
The only sitting councilor to get an endorsement was Palomba, who cast the lone vote to support the Arbitration Award. The other councilors voted against the award because they said it was not fair to other town employees because firefighters would have gotten raises in two years during the economic downturn in which other unions took no raise.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
Oct. 5, 6:48 p.m.: An officer ran the registration of a Chevy pickup and found the owner had a revoked license. The driver was pulled over and the 34-year-old Watertown man was arrested for driving with a license that was suspended for an OUI, and driving with a revoked license. Incidents
Oct.
A Watertown firefighter decided to celebrate the signing of the Watertown Fire contract after more than 6.5 years without one by making a special donation to help a cancer patient. Fellow firefighters noticed that Guillermo “Willie” Gaitan, a 30-year veteran of the WFD, had hair long enough for a ponytail. Willie half-jokingly said that he was not going to cut it until they had a contract, according to another firefighter. That was almost 3 years ago. Last week, upon the yes vote on the contract for Watertown Firefighters Local 1347, Firefighter Gaitan headed to the barber shop. When asked about his decision Willie replied, “I saw an opportunity to help others, and that’s what we do.”
His hair created a 15-inch braid, which has been donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which partners with the American Cancer Society to donate ponytails and funds the crafting of wigs for cancer patients.
A man entered the Stop & Shop on Pleasant Street and robbed the Citizens Bank branch inside, and Watertown Police have released images of the suspect.
The man came into the store around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday and approached the bank, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “He demanded employees hand over large bills,” Lawn said. “They gave him an undisclosed amount of cash and was seen getting into a blue sedan driven by another male.” The suspect is described as a while male, clean shaven, about 6-feet tall, 180 lbs., 40-50 years old, and wore a fur-lined winter hat with ear flaps, gold-framed aviator sunglasses and a blue jacket with grey sleeves, Lawn said. The car he left in was last seen heading down Pleasant Street toward Waltham.
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Sept. 29, 11:23 p.m.: A hit-and-run accident occurred at Union Street near Eliot Street, and when police arrived they spotted a damaged vehicle a little way down the street and the driver inside. He told police he was reading a text when he hit the vehicle. Police performed field sobriety tests.
It was nearly a full house in the Town Council Chambers Wednesday, as officials and residents gathered to discuss what they’re looking for in their next police chief. The Committee on Public Safety held a public meting to discuss the design of the assessment center that will be used to narrow down the pool of candidates for the new police chief, and to give residents and officials an opportunity weigh in on the process. Town Manager Michael Driscoll and Public Safety Consultants LLC, the firm hired to design the center, were in attendance to explain the process and hear what audiences members were looking for in their next chief. Chief Wayne Sampson of Public Safety Consultants said that getting feedback was an important part of designing an assessment center unique to Watertown. “Generally speaking, throughout Massachusetts the duties of a chief of police are generally the same, but there is some uniqueness in each community,” Sampson said.
You might notice Watertown firefighters clad in Pepto Bismol colored T-shirts, instead of their normal dar blue ones. They are going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month. The tradition started several years ago when now-retired firefighter Tom Thibault approached Fire Chief Mario Orangio about doing something to raise awareness after Thibault’s wife was diagnosed with the disease. “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I said, sure,” Orangio said. “The guys like it.