Police/Fire

Police Log: Three Youths Broke into a School Bus, Gun Found in Hotel Room

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 4, 1:15 p.m.: Police served a warrant on a 26-year-old Watertown man from Waltham District Court for animal cruelty. May 4, 2:13 p.m.: A shoplifter was caught concealing $405 worth of merchandise at Target. The 56-year-old Falmouth woman was arrested on a charge of shoplifting. May 4, 9:21 p.m.: An officer patrolling on Elm Street by Arlington Street ran the registration of a vehicle and found the registered owner had an outstanding warrant.

Government

Fire Chief: Contract is Biggest Obstacle to Advanced Ambulance Service

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One of the goals of the Watertown Fire Department is to upgrade to advanced life support (ALS) ambulance service, but to do so Fire Chief Mario Orangio said the town will have to settle the contract with the firefighters union. Orangio presented his budget to the Town Council Wednesday night. Watertown has eight certified paramedics in the department. The Fire Department’s budget of $8.8 million includes $95,000 for equipment required to start-up an ALS service ambulance. Currently Watertown uses an outside ambulance service for ALS service, and the Fire Department provides basic life support (BLS) services.

Boston Marathon Bombing

With Marthon Bombing Trial Over, Police Can Talk About Shootout

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Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau said he can finally talk publicly about the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and he gave the Town Council some details. 

Monday night, Deveau talked about the shootout during the Police Department’s budget hearing in front of the Council. When asked by Councilor Aaron Dushku about the lessons learned from the incident in April 2013, Deveau said his officers have changed some of their training in reaction to the incident. As an example, the Watertown Police officers now train more with the rifles in their patrol cruisers. “One example, one of the things – I’d say this was was my responsibility, it was  my fault – we have patrol rifles in vehicle. When we got those I told the officers, ‘we’re putting them in but don’t touch them unless you need them.

Boston Marathon Bombing

MBTA Officer Hurt in Watertown Shootout Returns to Duty

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Sergeant Donohue pic.twitter.com/I6dRyG2uOt
— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) May 15, 2015
MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue almost lost his life during the shootout in Watertown with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, but after a long recovery he returned to duty this week, and got promoted! The MBTA Police held a promotion ceremony this week, and Donohue told WHDH Channel 7 that he is glad to be back on duty. See more by clicking here. Donohue also commented this week on the jury’s decision to give the death penalty to convicted Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. “Just over two years after the events that impacted us as a community and a nation, we can finally close this chapter in our lives.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Family Says Officer Died From Injuries From Shootout with Bombers in Watertown

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A Boston Police officer who collapsed and died last year may have died from injuries suffered during the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects in Watertown, and his family is seeking benefits related to the incident. On April 19, 2013 Boston Police Officer Dennis Simmonds reportedly rushed into Watertown, where officers were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the Tsarnaev brothers. Simmonds was allegedly knocked off his feet and suffered a head injury after one of the brothers threw an explosive that night. A year later, he collapsed and died while working out at the Boston Police Academy Gym. He was 28, and a six year veteran of the BPD.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Enforcing Seat Belt Laws During Click It or Ticket Event

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From May 11 to May 25, the Watertown Police Department will team up with Massachusetts State Police and more than 191 eligible local police departments statewide to promote seat belt usage through increased traffic enforcement. 
Watertown will take part in the national Click It or Ticket (CIOT) seat belt enforcement mobilization, which is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD), according to an announcement from the Watertown Police Department.  
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2013 there were 21,132 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the United States.  49 percent of the people killed (10,458) were unbelted. “Watertown is focusing our enforcement efforts on safety belts to increase usage and save lives,” said Watertown Police Sgt. David Sampson. NHTSA reports that the national seat belt usage rate is 87 percent. Massachusetts is lagging behind at 76.6 percent. During the five-year period from 2009 to 2013, Massachusetts had a lower rate of restraint use among fatally-injured passenger vehicle occupants than the rest of the nation.      
“Officers will issue citations to anyone traveling without a buckled seat belt or transporting unrestrained children. The goal is not to hand out tickets, but to keep the public safe. A seat belt is the best defense against impaired, distracted, and aggressive drivers,” said Sgt. Sampson.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Employee Caught Stealing from Business and More

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
April 27, 9:58 p.m.: Security at the Watertown Street Stop & Shop spotted a man put several items into a shopping cart and walk toward the entrance. He was stopped and had $598.78 worth of groceries. The 25-year-old Newton man was arrested for larceny over $250. April 28, 3:13 p.m.: A woman was spotted putting several items of clothes into her pocketbook and more items between her pocketbook and her body.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for OUI and Leaving Scene of Accident

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
April 24, 6:26 a.m.: Police served a warrant from Middlesex Juvenile Court on a 14-year-old boy from Watertown for threatening to commit a crime. April 26, 11:37 p.m.: A Grandview Avenue heard a crash and looked out to see a black sedan leaving the are after hitting a parked car. Police found the driver side of the parked car heavily damaged. Several minutes later a car was found in a driveway on King Street with heavy passenger side damage and the engine was still warm.