Police/Fire

Police Log: Woman Caught Breaking into Homes, Drug Dealer Caught in CVS Parking Lot

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 1, 1:35 a.m.: An officer checking speeds by radar on Pleasant Street spotted a vehicle heading westbound going over 50 mph. When the officer pulled out to follow the vehicle the driver went through a red light near Repton Circle. The officer put on the emergency lights and the other driver turned of his taillights and accelerated away toward Waltham. The driver attempted to turn right onto Seyon Street in Waltham and two wheels went up on the curb and then came to a stop.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Department will be Assessed for Re-Accreditation

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Chief Michael Lawn is pleased to announce that a team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive on June 26, 2018, to begin examining various aspects of the Watertown Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities. Verification by the Assessment Team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain state Accreditation — a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the Department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 75 of the optional standards. Achieving Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

Police/Fire

Two Men Indicted for Shooting in Watertown by Middlesex Grand Jury

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A grand jury indicted two men for shooting a third man in an Arsenal Street home in February. Also, a man was indicted on drug trafficking charges in an unrelated incident. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced the grand jury indictments on Thursday. Carlos Castillo and Randell Glenn were arrested for the shooting that allegedly occurred when they tried to take marijuana and money from a drug dealer, who fought back. Castillo, 19, of Boston, was charged with armed assault in a dwelling, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery by discharging a firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of a loaded firearm. The Assistant District Attorney is Clarence Brown.

Cancer

Watertown Fire Department Making Efforts to Avoid Risks of Cancer

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The past 18 months have been a difficult for the Watertown Fire Department, with two deaths within the department, and Fire Chief Bob Quinn wants to take steps to prevent further tragedies. In March 2017, Firefighter Joe Toscano collapsed and died from heart failure while fighting a fire. Then in October, Fire Chief Mario Orangio died after months battling pancreatic cancer, which is one of the types of cancer which firefighters are more at risk of getting. This year, Quinn has put an emphasis on the health and safety of his firefighters. This includes strength, conditioning, nutrition, stress managment, as well as reducing the risk of on-the-job cancer.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Arrested on Fugitive from Justice Warrant, Multiple OUI Arrests

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 21, 1:19 a.m.: An officer spotted a vehicle heading eastbound on Main Street and then make a sharp right turn onto Pleasant Street, which is one way the opposite direction at that point. The officer stopped the driver and while speaking with the him the officer detected a strong odor of alcohol from the driver. The driver admitted to drinking alcohol before driving. He failed four field sobriety tests.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Online Car Purchase Goes Wrong, Threats Made to Tufts Employee

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrest
May 16, 9:51 p.m.: An officer pulled a over vehicle on Mt. Auburn Street after the driver failed to use a turn signal. When the officer checked the driver’s record it revealed the driver had an out-of-state warrant. The 27-year-old Watertown man was arrested of the fugitive from justice warrant for a charge from Nebraska in a domestic-related incident.

Police/Fire

Police Want to Make Immigrants Feel Welcome, Cut Down on Drugs in Town

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Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn hopes to make the town welcoming to most people, including immigrants, but he wants officers to put more emphasis on enforcing traffic infractions as part of an effort to cut down on the amount of drugs in the area. 

Lawn spoke about the Police Department’s priorities during the budget hearing in front of the Town Council on Saturday. Since he became Police Chief two years ago Lawn has put an emphasis on community policing. “I want officers to get out of their car and get into stores and on the street and speak with people,” Lawn said. The Police Department has a number of programs where residents can meet police  in and participate in fun activities, such as the Cops & Rec sports activities for youngsters, the twice-monthly Coffee with the Chief at the Senior Center, and the Citizens Police Academy (which will be back this fall). Lawn wants to start offering a similar academy for youth, a program that the WPD used to offer and which Lawn himself attended.

Around Town

Registration Open for Cops & Rec Basketball, Hockey and Rock Climbing

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Children can get to know members of the Watertown Police Department and have some fun during the Cops & Rec programs.

There are three programs which are filled on a first come, first served basis. Register for the programs online by clicking here, or in person at the Recreation Office in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. Cops & Rec Basketball League

The Watertown Recreation and Police Department are collaborating to offer a summer basketball league. The general objectives of the program are to promote sportsmanship and teamwork in a fun and positive setting, while focusing on basketball fundamentals. There will be a girls league and a boys league.