Around Town

See Photos of the Procession for Fallen Boston Firefighter from Watertown

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Watertown residents came out of their homes, left their businesses early and lined Mt. Auburn Street to pay their respects for fallen Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh Friday evening. Joining the line of vehicles were Boston Fire trucks, including Walsh’s Engine 33 and Ladder 15, on which the other fallen Boston firefighter, Michael Kennedy, worked. Watertown Fire vehicles also rolled through town along with police vehicles from many departments, including Boston, Watertown, Newton, the State Police and more.

Around Town

Honor Fallen Boston Firefighter Walsh Today in Watertown

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A procession through Watertown will honor Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh who died in a fire on Wednesday. Watertown will honor fallen Boston Firefighter Edward J. Walsh – a Watertown native – on Friday, and the public is encouraged to come out and pay their respects.A funeral procession will come through Watertown as Walsh is carried from Boston to Stanton Funeral Home near the Cambridge line on Mt. Auburn Street. The procession will come down Galen Street, through Watertown Square and then up Mt. Auburn Street to the funeral home.

Police/Fire

Fallen Boston Firefighter Has Family on Watertown Fire Department

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Lt. Edward J. Walsh, one of the Boston firefighters killed in the 9-alarm blaze in the Back Bay on Wednesday, has family on the Watertown Fire Department.  

Walsh, 43, of West Roxbury, and firefighter Michael Kennedy, 33 of Hyde Park, died in the basement of a brownstone on Beacon Street when flames flared up in a backdraft, Boston Fire officials said Wednesday night. Thirteen other firefighters were injured in the fire. The fire touched Watertown, as Walsh has family members currently and formerly on the Watertown Fire Department. His father was a lieutenant on the WFD as was his late uncle Bill, according to the Boston Fire Department.

Around Town

Feds Nab Connecticut Man for Allegedly Trying to Meet Minor for Sex in Watertown

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By Charlie Breitrose

A man who drove from Connecticut to Watertown to allegedly have sex with an underage girl was arrested yesterday and faces multiple charges. Paul R. Hinkel, 56, of Chester, Conn., faces federal charges that he persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to a press release from United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s office. “We vigorously pursue defendants who intend to use the Internet to evade detection and to infringe on the protections of children,” Ortiz said. Hinkel responded to an ad on Craigslist which he thought was placed by a woman who was looking for a man to have a “relatioship” which would also include her underage daughter. The ad, however, was placed by undercover Homeland Security Investigation agents, according to the announcement.

Police/Fire

Reward Offered for Info on Person Behind Threat at Watertown High School

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By Charlie BreitroseAfter another threat that evacuated Watertown High School on Friday, a reward has been offered for helping to catch the person behind the threat.The State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Watertown Police Department have put up a reward of up to $5,000 reward for “information leading to the arrest of a suspect,” according to the press release from the Watertown Police.”Any individual offering information will remain anonymous,” the announcement reads.The threat was the third this school year. Two occurred in December. Once a threatening note was found and the second time a single bullet was found on a desk in a classroom at WHS.What do you think about the repeated threats at Watertown High?

Police/Fire

Watertown High School has Been Evacuted, Again

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By Charlie Breitrose

For the third time this school year Watertown High School has been evacuated due to a potential threat. Reports that a threatening note has been found at the high school. State Police are being called in to search the building. Principal Shirley Lundberg sent parents a letter saying that at threatening letter was found at about 11:30 a.m. Friday and the school was evacuated as an abundance of caution. “The threat was determined NOT to be credible.  As soon as the police have secured the building, we will be returning students to classes,” Lundberg wrote.

Around Town

Watertown Firefighters Now Armed with Antidote for Heroin Overdoses

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Deaths from overdoses caused by heroin and other opioids has risen in Massachusetts, and has even impacted Watertown. The Watertown Fire Department is one of the first departments to have access to an antidote for overdoses. Starting on Feb. 20, all Watertown fire vehicles began carrying Nalaxone, a drug that can be given as an antidote to a person suspected of suffering from an opioid overdose, said Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio. Opioids also include prescription painkiller medicines codeine and oxycontin.