Police/Fire

Public Input on Selecting the Next Police Chief Wanted by City Manager

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The process for selecting Watertown’s next Police Chief has started and City Manager George Proakis will hold a meeting to hear from the public about selecting the next chief. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The City Manager is seeking community input as he starts the process of selecting the next police chief for the Watertown Police Department. Please join us on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 6:00 PM at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room. The Library is located at 123 Main Street in Watertown.

Police/Fire

Watertown’s New Fire Chief Appointed by City Manager

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Photo by Watertown Fire DepartmentRyan Nicholson has been named Watertown’s new Fire Chief. Here he is shown when he was appointed Assistant Fire Chief. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager George J. Proakis is pleased to announce the appointment Ryan Nicholson as the new Fire Chief for the City of Watertown. Chief Nicholson brings 17 years of experience to the Watertown Fire Department. As Chief, he will oversee approximately 90 sworn and civilian staff, providing fire and emergency response services spanning four groups with an annual operating budget of approximately $13 million.

Police/Fire

Three Watertown Firefighters Graduate from State Fire Academy

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Watertown Firefighters Kate Boudreau, Aqib Shah, and Kevin Mawe graduatd from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Fire Services)

The following information was provided by the state Department of Fire Services:

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Massachusetts Firefighting Academy Director Jeffrey P. Winn announced the graduation of 23 firefighters, including three from Watertown, from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. “First responders are on the frontlines protecting their communities, and these newest firefighters are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. “The rigorous professional training they’ve received provides them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”

The graduating firefighters of Class #312 represent the fire departments of Amesbury, Chelsea, Devens, Gardner, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Peabody, Swampscott, Watertown, and Winchester. The following graduates are members of the Watertown Fire Department: Kate Boudreau, Kevin Mawe, and Aqib Shah.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Caught Shoplifting, Fire at Newlywed Foods

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

July 8, 3:18 p.m.: Security at Perkins School for the Blind spotted an unknown person walking around on the school property. They attempted to speak to the man but he left the property. Police located the man on North Beacon Street, and he said he was walking on the property because it was shady and quiet. Officers learned that he was wanted on a warrant.

Police/Fire

Two Cars Stolen, Several Broken Into One Night in Watertown

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Police seek suspects connected to a string of car break-ins in a Watertown neighborhood that resulted in two vehicles being stolen. Overnight from July 7 to July 8, several residents of Standish Road, Lovell Road, Poplar Street Walcott Road and Merrill Road reported that their vehicles had been broken into, and two said their vehicles were missing. Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor said that a Nissan SUV was taken from Lovell Road, and later turned up on Merrill Road. And, a resident of Merrill Road reported that his Audi Q7 had been taken out of his driveway. The first report of a break-in came on July 8 at 2:37 a.m. Police responded to a Standish Road home, where a homeowner got an alert from her doorbell cam that there had been some movement in front of her home at 1:30 a.m. The video shows a suspect fleeing, and the resident discovered that her car’s center console and glove box had been rummaged through, but nothing was missing.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Break Into Apartment & Take $11K Valuables, Skimming Device Found in Bank ATM

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

July 1, 12:07 a.m.: An officer spotted a vehicle stopped facing the wrong way on Baptist Walk. The Jeep Grand Cherokee had its engine running and was facing toward Mt. Auburn Street, on the road which is one way the other direction. The driver appeared to be sleeping behind the wheel, and the officer had to knock several times to wake him.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Arrested After Fight Involving Knife, Man & Woman Caught Doing Fentanyl

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

June 19, 7:16 a.m.: A man parked his car on Mt. Auburn Street in front of Dunkin’ near Watertown Square but he was not fully in the spot. A passing car honked its horn to have him move his car. The man, identified as Yesner Espinal, gave the driver an obscene gesture and yelled at him.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Man Attacked After Altercation at Boston Club

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

June 14, 1:15 p.m.: The Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force, which includes a Watertown detective, had been conducting a narcotics investigation. During the investigation, they observed a man driving on Rosedale Avenue whom they had probable cause to arrest. The man’s car was stopped at Rosedale Avenue near Acton Street. Inside the car, officers observed in plain view a small plastic bag with a white powdery substance that is believed to be fentanyl.