Police/Fire

New Watertown Strong Flag Flying Over Watertown High School

By |

A new bright red flag with the words “Watertown Strong” now flies on the flag pole at Watertown High School in honor of the work of the first responders on April 19, 2013.Thursday morning, the high school held a ceremony to honor the first responders and to celebrate the new flag. The idea for the new banner came from students in the Transitions to Success class at WHS. The students wanted to thank the Watertown Police and Watertown Fire departments for their work last April when they helped stop and capture the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. The class raised money for the flag, made by Lubin’s Trophy of Newton, by selling wrist bands. They also received a donation from the Watertown Fire and Police Memorial Golf Tournament.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Log: Expensive Sneakers Swiped, Driver Busted on OUI has Beer Cup in Car

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. An arrest does not indicate a conviction. Arrests

April 3, 10:31 p.m.: A driver spotted a car driving erratically on Walnut Street and noticed one of the tail lights was not working. The driver followed the car as it got onto Arsenal Street, drove into Boston, came back down Nonantum Road and drove onto California Street. Police pulled the erratic driver over and noticed that she had an empty plastic Bud Light cup on her seat.

Police/Fire

See Why Dunkin Donuts was Closed Off

By |

A man stopped to get some coffee at Dunkin Donuts on Mt. Auburn Street, but he the stop ended up being longer than he anticipated. Richard Corbett told WHDH Channel 7 that a woman rear ended his car, sending it into the Dunkin Donuts store on Thursday morning. The car and store suffered damages, but no body was injured. See more details and video from WHDH by clicking here.

Government

Watertown Police Chief Testified Before Congress

By |

Congress wanted to hear from someone with first hand experience dealing with a terrorist attack, so Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau went to Washington Wednesday. Deveau shared the lessons he and his department learned from the events of April 19, when officers faced off with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects and ultimately caught the second suspect after a multi-hour manhunt. When an event like the one faced in Watertown last year, Deveau told the House Homeland Security Committee, the local law enforcement needs to “have access to the table” with the terrorism task force and right away, according to an Associated Press. See the report on Houston Chronicle site by clicking here. Deveau was joined by Watertown Police Sgt.

Police/Fire

Woman, 2 Teens Arrested for Shoplifting at Watertown Target

By |

A South Boston woman faces charge of shoplifting and coaxing two teens into taking items from Target in Watertown, according to police. Store security spotted Tara P. Mannion, 29, of South Boston, along with two girls -one 12 and one 14 – shoplifting on the night of April 6. “They were placing clothing and jewelry into a reusable bag,” said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. “The older female was instructing the other females what to place into the bags.” When they attempted to leave the store, security stopped them.

Government

Report Investigated Response to Bomber Manhunt in Watertown

By |

When the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects came to Watertown law enforcement and emergency personnel leapt into action and ultimately stopped the pair. A report recently published by Harvard University researchers examined how well agencies responded. The report, called “Why Was Boston Strong?: Lessons from the Boston Marathon Bombing” was produced by the Kennedy of School of Government’s Program on Crisis Leadership. Researchers used interviews with more than 100 people involved in the response to the bombing at the Marathon finish line as well as the shootout and manhunt in Watertown. The report concluded that the response at the finish line worked well in part because of the large presence of first responders already in place for the race, and because of good coordination.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Chief Recounts Shootout with Bombing Suspect

By |

The anniversary of one of the most memorable days in Watertown history is coming up, and Police Chief Edward Deveau recently recounted the events of April 19, 2013. Deveau shared his memories with Foxsports.com, and recalled receiving a phone call from one of his officer who said “Chief, they’re shooting at us.” They, of course, are the Tsarnaev brothers who are the suspects in the Boston Marathon Bombing and in the killing of MIT Police Officer Sean Collier. He also talks about plans to run this year’s Boston Marathon. Read the entire article by clicking here.

Police/Fire

Boston Officials Announce Cause of Fire that Killed Fire Lt. Walsh

By |

The fire in the Back Bay that killed Boston Fire Lt. and Watertown native Edward Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy was sparked by welders doing work on the building, Boston officials said. The fire on March 26 started in 296 Beacon St., the building behind the home in which Walsh and Kennedy died in an explosion while fighting the blaze in the basement. During a press conference Friday morning Boston Fire Commissioner John Hasson said welders had been working on the building. “Sparks from the welding got under the clapboards, the fire ignited and got rolling,” Hasson said. “It was set off by wind off the Charles River and ultimately consumed the building.”