Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested for Unarmed Robbery, Multiple Checks Stolen Out of Mail

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. May 15, 3 p.m.: A woman mailed her electric bill to Eversource in April, putting it in a mailbox at School Street and Putnam Street. On May 15, she received a message from Rockland Trust saying her account was overdrawn. She saw that a check had been altered and made out to Khamarin Wizard and for $19,700. Police and the bank are investigating.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Inviting a 14 Year Old to His Home to Have Sex

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A 47-year-old Watertown man faces a charge of enticement a child under 16 after he invited what he thought was a 14-year-old to his home to have sex, Watertown Police said. On May 16 at 10:20 p.m., Watertown Police responded to a home on Arthur Terrace after receiving a call from a group called Predator Poachers of Massachusetts that had been corresponding online with the man while posing as a teenage boy. The suspect was identified by Police as Brian Lally, 47, of Watertown, said Watertown Police Sgt. Ken Swift. “(The group) had been texting back and forth with a 47 year old named Brian Lally,” Swift said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Complete Interactive, Scenario-Based Training with Support of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office

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Middlesex Sheriff’s Officer Ryan Abrams and Watertown Police Sergeant Tom Dicker stand outside the MSO’s Mobile Training Center. Photo courtesy of Watertown Police Department

The following announcement was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian have announced that 43 Watertown police officers recently completed interactive, scenario-based training facilitated by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO). Training was completed between April 22-26 in Watertown utilizing the MSO’s Mobile Training Center (MTC). During the training, officers were put through a series of video-based scenarios that replicated situations they may need to respond to on any shift. This included traffic stops and incidents in which individuals were in mental health crisis. These scenarios allowed officers to focus on the effective use of communication and de-escalation skills, with Watertown PD training staff able to provide immediate feedback.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Seek Information About Missing Woman

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Bogalech Gedore

The Watertown Police Department announced it is seeking information from the public on the whereabouts of 34 year-old Bogalech Gedore. Bogalech came from the United Arab Emirates eight months ago to serve as a nanny for a family in Watertown. She was last seen by the family on the evening of Friday, May 10th. Bogalech does not speak English well and she is not known to have friends or family in the area. If you have any information that could be helpful, please contact the Watertown Police Department at 617-972-6500.

Police/Fire

Fallen Fire Chief’s Legacy Remembered at Unveiling of Memorial Flagpole

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseA crowd gathered at Fire Station 3 to remember former Fire Chief Mario Orangio on Monday. The flagpole was dedicated in his memory. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered around the Fire Station on Orchard Street Monday morning to remember a former Fire Chief who left a lasting legacy not just on the Watertown Fire Department, but fire departments across the state. Mario Orangio was the youngest fire chief in Watertown history when he was appointed in 2004 at the age of 37. He helped improve the EMS and ambulance service provided by the Watertown Fire Department, and saw the introduction of ALS (Advanced Life Support) service in his final year as chief, in 2017.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Caught Taking Items from Nike, Resident Reports Scam Email

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department. May 1, 12 p.m.: The manager at Nike reported that a man came into the store with a Target shopping bag and placed a shoe box in and left without paying. A pair of Jordan low sneakers worth $115 was taken. May 2, 6 p.m.: A man came into Nike and took a Tech Fleece sweatshirt priced at $140 and a pair of sneakers worth $75. May 2, 8 p.m.: A woman was seen going into Target and took $295 worth of merchandise, including clothing and cosmetics.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police to be Removed from Civil Service, Use Body Cams & Vehicle Cams

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Some major changes will be coming to the Watertown Police Department in the near future, including taking patrol officers out of the Civil Service System, and officers will wear body cameras and have cameras on their vehicles. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council about the changes during his Fiscal Year 2025 City Budget presentation on April 30. The move out of Civil Service is intended to help the Police Department recruit and hire more easily, he said, and studies of other departments have shown that body cams have led to fewer citizen complaints, higher rates of prosecution and other benefits. Civil Service

The Civil Service rules apply to hiring, promotions, and the disciplinary appeal process. The first part has become more and more difficult for the Police Department, said Proakis, who added that he has not seen the same thing for the Watertown Fire Department, which is also in Civil Service.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Sting Nabs Nearly a Dozen Suspected Shoplifters

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More than a dozen Watertown Police officers blanketed Arsenal Yards and the Watertown Mall Wednesday afternoon. They blended in, wearing street clothes, so they could approach shoplifters without attracting attention and place them under arrest. The sting nabbed 11 people in about six hours. The Watertown Police Department worked with retailers, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, and the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force, to catch as many shoplifters as possible, and to send a message to others, said Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan. “During the operation, undercover officers and loss prevention personnel from Target, Best Buy, Nike, Home Depot, and Ulta were strategically deployed across various retail establishments identified as high-risk locations for shoplifting.