Government

Councilors Gathering Ideas to Battle Opiate Epidemic in Watertown

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The Council’s Human Services Committee wants the town to take steps to battle the increasingly deadly problem of addiction to heroin and other opiates, and plans to put together an action plan with the help of the Police, Health Department, doctors and local addiction and recovery experts. 

Tuesday night, the Human Services Committee held an unfortunately timely meeting, just days after two Watertown residents died from drug overdoses and a third went to hospital for treatment. This brings the death toll from drugs up to eight this year, said Watertown Police Lt. Dan Unsworth, after just one death all of last year. The meeting packed the Lower Hearing Room of Town Hall, and the discussion lasted more than 2-1/2 hours. Follow the exchange of ideas, the subcommittee – Tony Palomba and Aaron Dushku – came up with some recommendations to bring to the full Town Council. The first recommendation was to have all Watertown Police officers carry Narcan – a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose.

Around Town

Watertown Police Lend a Hand at the Special Olympics

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Four Watertown Police officers gave Special Olympics athletes the VIP treatment by giving them a police convoy and handing out awards. 
On June 6, the Watertown Police joined the Special Olympics Cruiser Convey that ended at Harvard University, said Capt. Raymond DuPuis, one of the participating officers. Once they got there, the group headed to the aquatics center to hand out medals to the athletes in the swimming competition, and the Lavietes Pavilion for they gymnastics.  

Police/Fire

Two Dead From Series of Overdoses in Watertown Over Weekend

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Police are investigating the deaths of two Watertown residents from drug overdoses over the weekend and a third who was treated in hospital. 

On Friday at 11:49 p.m., police received a call about a 25-year-old Watertown man who had fallen near 7-Eleven in Watertown Square, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “Officers found him unresponsive, administered (anti-overdose medicine) Narcan and took him to the hospital,” Lawn said. The second call came in at 1:02 a.m. on Saturday from Bradshaw Street for a possible overdose. A 22-year-old Watertown woman was taken to Mt. Auburn Hospital where she was pronounced dead, Lawn said.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Busted for 3rd OUI Drugs, Man Allegedly Punched 64-Year-Old

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 2, 11:44 a.m.: Police were called to a civil matter on Waverley Avenue and found that a woman had a warrant out for her. The 34-year-old Winchester woman was arrested on the warrant from Cambridge District Court for failure to pay a fine. June 3, 8:55 p.m.: Security at Target watched a woman who had been in the store for two hours, and then was seen near the doors looking around. She was spotted putting items under her shirt.

Government

See Details of the Watertown Police Supervisors Union’s New Contract

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Watertown’s police supervisors will be required to wear body armor, submit to drug tests and carry antidotes to overdoses and allergic reactions as part of their new contract. 

On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to transfer $197,625 to cover a new contract agreement with the Watertown Police Supervisors Association, which covers sergeants, lieutenants and captains. The contract calls for members to submit to mandatory, random drug testing, according to the details of the contract. Police supervisors will now carry and be able to administer two potentially life-saving items: Narcan – which can reverse heroin and opiate overdoses – and epi-pens – which help with many allergic reactions. Also, they must wear body armor when they are working field activities, including working a patrol shift. In addition, they must wear protective vests for high risk and tactical situations, such as serving search warrants, drug raids and initial crime scene response.

Police/Fire

Police Bust Watertown Man After Joint Drug Investigation

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Police busted a Watertown man for allegedly dealing drugs on the Westside of town. 

Watertown Police teamed with the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force to investigate drug dealing activity in town. Police followed a suspect and pulled the suspect over on Prentiss Street and identified him as Shah Faisal, 25, of Watertown. When officers searched him, they found Percocet pills, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. Faisal was arrested on a charge of possession to distribute a Class B drug, Lawn said.

Police/Fire

Town Manager Fires Back on Watertown Firefighters’ Contract Dispute

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll has been silent about the contract dispute with the Watertown Firefighters since the Town Council rejected the arbitration award in December, but this week he rebuked many of the contentions of the union and its supporters. Driscoll made his statement at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. The Council voted 8-1 against supporting the award presented by a neutral arbitration panel, saying that it was unfair to other unions in town because it would give the firefighters larger raises than others had received. Tony Palomba voted for the agreement. Contract Numbers
The firefighters sought raises well in excess of other unions, Driscoll said, who said that the union wanted raises and other benefits that would have given an increase of 19 percent.

Police/Fire

Man Punched When Suspect Attempts to Rob Him on Mt. Auburn St.

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A man reported being attacked by a suspect who tried to rob him as he walked along Mt. Auburn Street at night last week. The man told Watertown Police that he was walking along Mt. Auburn near Irma Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. on June 4, when he was attacked, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “The man said the suspect turned and said, ‘Give me some money,’ and punched him in the face,” Lawn said.