Police/Fire

Blind Pedestrian Who was Struck Crossing Arsenal Street Has Died

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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced this week that Arthur Bourgoin, 78, of Watertown has died from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle in Watertown on Tuesday, March 3. Bourgoin, who was visually impaired, was a volunteer at the Perkins School For The Blind, according to the announcement from the DA’s office. “This victim was attempting to cross the street when he was hit by a vehicle traveling on Arsenal Street,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Nationwide, in recent years, we have made progress in terms of pedestrian safety, but the number of deaths is still significant. The latest figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that pedestrian deaths occur primarily in urban areas and account for 14 percent of crash deaths.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Department Welcomes Three New Officers

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The Watertown Police Department is pleased to announce the swearing-in of three new officers into its ranks: Christopher Murgo, Michael Hill, and Kerilyn Amedio. Officer Murgo is a 2008 graduate of Watertown High School and a 2013 graduate of Salem State College. Officer Hill is a 2003 graduate of Newton North High School and a 2007 graduate of Middlesex Community College. Officer Amedio is a 2008 graduate of Mount Saint Joseph Academy and a 2012 graduate of UMass-Boston. The officers attended the six month State Police Municipal Police Academy in New Braintree.

Police/Fire

Visually Impaired Pedestrian Struck While Crossing Arsenal Street

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The Middlesex District Attorney’s office is investigating an incident where a vehicle struck a visually-impaired pedestrian who was crossing Arsenal Street Tuesday morning. The pedestrian, who volunteers at the Perkins School For The Blind, was struck near Beechwood Avenue and was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries, according to a press release from District Attorney Marian Ryan’s office. “It is state law that drivers must come to a complete stop for someone in a crosswalk,” Ryan said. “In real driving conditions, what this law means is that people who are driving really should slow down when approaching any crosswalk so that if a pedestrian is trying to cross the street the driver will have plenty of time to safely stop, thus preventing an injury to the pedestrian and preventing other vehicles from rear-ending the vehicle which is stopping.”

The driver of the vehicle which allegedly struck the pedestrian at 6:55 a.m. pulled to the side of the road and then he spoke to police officers. This incident is under investigation by the Watertown Police Department and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Government

DA Asked to Help Get Answers about Fire Negotiations; Nurses Lend Support

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Former Town Councilor and current Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney has appealed to the Middlesex District Attorney for answers about the cost of negotiations on the Watertown Firefighters’ contract. The Watertown Firefighters continue to push for approval of their contract after more than 5 1/2 years and following the Town Council’s rejection of a state arbitration agreement in December. The negotiation teams have met since the vote, but little ground has been made toward settling the contract according to those familiar with the negotiations. All but one Town Councilor voted to reject the agreement, stating that the agreement would be unfair to the town’s other unions because it included increases that they did not receive during difficult budget years. Petitto Devaney told the Town Council last week that she has written a letter to Middlesex DA Marian Ryan seeking help to get answers from town officials.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Woman Steals Over $1,700 in Items from Victoria Secret and More

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

Feb. 9, 5:35 a.m.: An officer ran the registration of a car on Mt. Auburn Street and discovered the owner had a suspended license and a warrant. The 42-year-old Brockton man was arrested for driving with a suspended license – a subsequent offense, and a warrant from Chelsea District Court.