Letters

LETTER: Former Councilor Concerned About Process to Choose Police Chief

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Open letter :

I am respectfully requesting that the Town Councillors request that the Town Manager implement the standardized Civil service exam for Chief of Police. Watertown implemented the standardized exam for over 70 years when the Town Manager threw it out and replaced it with Role Playing and Assessment Center i.e. -when appointing Chief Deveau. It is most fair that a chief be chosen from the civil service exam based on Police knowledge. One of the questions asked in the role playing section to the applicants for Chief was : ‘How would you handle a complaint from a member of the Town Council? In fairness to anyone who applies-please request the Manager to return to the Standardized civil service exam that is also objective – not subjective.

Police/Fire

Downed Power Line Sparks Fire, Knocks Out Power

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A downed power line caused a small fire in the yard of a Watertown home on Thursday morning. At about 5:45 a.m., the electrical line fell onto the front lawn of a house on Spring Street near Fayette Street – a couple blocks from Watertown Square. Firefighters responded quickly but had to wait for an Eversource crew to come and shut off power before the flames could be doused. Power was cut in the neighborhood and a section of Spring Street was been closed while the line is repaired. Eversource restored power at about 8:45 a.m.

Police/Fire

Two Women Busted for Shoplifting and Taking a Purse at Target

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Two women face charges after allegedly taking merchandise from Target, and one of the women also is charged with taking a purse. Target security spotted two women with two children taking items off the shelf and concealing items under a child’s car seat in a carriage. They were stopped when they attempted to leave the store without paying, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. One of he pair was identified as Isabel Lara-Krasikov, 29 of Mattapan. “As security was detaining them, (security officers) were informed that a customer reported a purse was stolen,” Lawn said.

Around Town

Watertown Children Graduate from Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Academy

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The first week of the 2015 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) concluded Friday, July 10, with a graduation ceremony for 106 area cadets from the communities of Belmont, Burlington, Waltham and Watertown. “I am incredibly honored to be able to offer this program to Middlesex County families,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian in the graduation announcement. “It is a tremendous opportunity for us to teach youngsters important public safety lessons in a fun environment, while also providing an opportunity for those same cadets to get to know members of their local police and fire departments.”

 

This is the 16th year of the YPSA program for children ages 9-11 from across Middlesex County. This year the Academy will run six full weeks, with participants from more than 24 communities. Over the course of the week, cadets learned about fire hazards in their homes at the Middlesex Sheriff’s fire safety trailer; participated in team building exercises at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica; witnessed a K-9 demonstration; and visited with local police and fire officials during community day activities.

Police/Fire

Man Allegedly Steals Taxi in Watertown, Leads Chase on Mass Pike

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A man who allegedly stole a taxi in Watertown did not stop until he reached Western Mass. and was stopped by Massachusetts State Police. Welbert Nasser, 29, of Woburn, reportedly took the cab in Watertown at about 3 a.m. Monday morning. He then got on the Mass Turnpike and later was spotted in Ashland by State Police, according to a report by WCVB Channel 5. Troopers tried to stop the car in Auburn, but it sped away at about 100 miles per hour.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Teen Leads Police on Chase, Shoplifter Assaults Store Security

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
July 6, 1:04 a.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a red Dodge pickup with two black stripes turn into the taxi and bus area of Watertown Square, into which passenger cars are not authorized to go. The car headed down Main Street and the turned left toward Pleasant Street. The officer caught up with the pickup on Pleasant at Bridge Street. It took a right into Repton Place, and the officer noticed it did not have a license plate.

Environment

Grant for ‘Green’ Lights, Fire Negotiations Update & Heroin Crisis Discussion

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Watertown will replace several hundred street lights with energy efficient LED lights thanks to a grant awarded to the town by the state. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced the awarding of a $207,505 Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources grant to Watertown as part of the Green Community Competitive Grant program, Town Manager Michael Driscoll told the Town Council Tuesday. The money, along with $92,495 in incentives from Eversource, will pay for the $300,000 project to replace 800 high-pressure sodium and mercury vapor street lights with LED lights, Driscoll said. The new lights will provide the equivalent amount of light while consuming 62 percent less energy,” Driscoll said. The town is expected to save $50,000 in energy costs annually.

Police/Fire

Charges Dropped Against Man Arrested for Wearing Ammo Belt

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Suffolk County prosecutors dropped charges against a Watertown man who was arrested Friday when he wore an “ammo belt” made from fake bullets when he got onto an MBTA bus. Kevin Young, 26, appeared in Brighton District Court Monday facing charges of unlawful possession of ammunition, unlawfully carried dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. Those charges were dismissed, however, according to a WBZ News report. Prosecutors determined the ammunition “could not and weren’t intended to be fired,” according to the WBZ report. Passengers on the bus which Young boarded in Brighton called 911 fearing that he might have a gun (see more here).