Government

Fire Chief: Adding Paramedics to Department is a Quality of Life Issue

By |

The move to have the Watertown Fire Department handle paramedic service in-house is a matter of quality of life, said Fire Chief Mario Orangio. The Fire Department will hire four paramedics with a grant from FEMA, and some current members of the Fire Department will train to in advanced life support so the Watertown can provide its own paramedic service (read more here). Right now the town uses Armstrong Ambulance, which is based in Waltham. When Watertown runs its own ambulances the response time will be cut down. “The best thing is it will save time,” Orangio said.

Police/Fire

Fire Department Douses Small Fire in Watertown

By |

The Watertown Fire Department put out a fire that started in mulch beds at a condominium building on Coolidge Avenue Sunday afternoon. The fire occurred outside the Charles River Towers at 151 Coolidge Avenue at about 4:45 p.m. Sunday, according to reports. The fire did not damage the building.

Around Town

Police Log: Shoplifters Busted at Target, Tires Slashed in Watertown

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Arrests

April 21, 5:35 p.m.: A woman was spotted taking numerous clothing items from Target and tried to leave the store. She had $200.49 worth of clothing. Police arrested a 58-year-old Belmont woman on charges of shoplifting over $100. April 21, 4:48 p.m.: An officer on patrol on Main Street stopped a car and discovered the driver had an outstanding arrest warrant. A 36-year-old Dedham man was arrested on the warrant out of Dedham District Court.

Government

Budget Calls for More Police and Firefighters in Watertown

By |

Watertown will have more police officers and firefighters on duty with the Fiscal 2015 budget getting a boost from federal grants. The budget presented by Town Manger Michael Driscoll on Tuesday includes funding for a new police officer, as well as funding to cover the town’s matching portion for three positions funded by a grant. In May the Police Department will apply for the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Hiring Program run by the U.S. Department of Justice. The federal grant covers 75 percent of the salary for a police officer for three years. The town covers the rest and must keep the officer on for at least a year after the program ends, Driscoll said.

Around Town

Woman’s ‘Shopping Spree’ Lands her in Back of Police Car

By |

An woman upset that she could not return merchandise to Target tried to take matters into her own hands, but ended up under arrest. On April 25, a woman went to the customer service desk at Target to try to return some items, but was told she could not because she did not have the receipt. The woman was not satisfied with that answer. “She said ‘If I don’t get the money I will still what I need,'” said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “Then she walked through the store and took items off the shelf and tried to leave.”

Around Town

Watertown Police Log: Drunken Driver Strikes 3 Cars, Laptop Taken

By |

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

April 15, 8:59 p.m.: A 52-year-old Watertown man was arrested on charges of simple assault, domestic assault and battery and on two outstanding warrants. He was arrested on Robert Ford Road. April 16, 4:48 p.m.: A 35-year-old Watertown man was arrested after an incident on Warren Street. He faces charges of domestic assault and battery on a person over age 60.

Police/Fire

Suit Filed Against Welders for Fire That Killed 2 Boston Firefighters

By |

Owners of the building where the fire that killed two Boston Firefighters – including a Watertown native – are suing the company that was doing welding on the site. The nine-alarm fire in the Back Bay killed two firefighters – Lt. Edward Walsh, who grew up in Watertown, and Firefighter Michael Kennedy – and injured many more. The suit was filed by an attorney for the estate of Michael J. Callahan which owns 298 Beacon St., targets the owners of 296 Beacon St., Oliver Realty LP; welding company D & J Iron Works of Malden; and company owner Guiseppe Falcone. The suit claims that the welders did not take proper precautions to prevent a fire and did not get a permit to do the work, according to a story on WCVB’s website (click here to see more). A witness said in an affidavit that he went to the area when he got report of the fire and that he saw welders packing up their truck and leaving the scene, according to a report in the Boston Herald.

Police/Fire

Timing Equipment Stolen from Watertown Police 5K Race

By |

Race organizers put down electronic timing equipment for the Finish Strong 5K Road Race on the anniversary of the Watertown Manhunt, but when they went  to retrieve it, the equipment was gone. The race raised money for charities that helped the Boston Marathon Bombing victims and local school and community groups. (Click here to find out more about the race). RaceWire, which ran the timing of the race organized by the Watertown Police Supervisor’s Association, had left a generator and red mats with bib timing devices in it on Arlington Street near Merrifield Avenue for the start of the road race, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “They went to set up the finish line, and when they went back it was gone,” Lawn said.