Police/Fire

City Planning to Appeal Decision in Sexual Discrimination Case Involving the Police Department

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Police Station

The City of Watertown will be appealing the verdict and award of a Middlesex Superior Court jury that ruled in favor of a former Watertown Police detective who sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. On Thursday, the jury ruled in favor of Kathleen Donohue on both matters, and awarded her $4.3 million in back pay, future earnings, and damages, including $1 million in punitive damages. The City disagreed with the jury’s decision, said Doug Louison of Louison, Costello, Condon and Pfaff, one of Watertown’s attorneys in the case. “I think we’re looking at the case very closely again right now,” Louison said. “We strongly disagree with the jury’s conclusion.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: Former Watertown Police Officer Wins Sexual Discrimination Suit, Awarded More than $4 Million

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(Note: the total payout with interest has been updated.)

A Middlesex Superior Court jury ruled in favor of former Watertown Police Det. Kathleen Donohue in the civil suit for sexual discrimination and retaliation while she was a member of the Watertown Police Department. She was awarded more than $4 million in damages, back pay and future earnings. Donohue alleged that she was subject to jokes, remarks, and vulgar displays from members of the Watertown Police, and also testified that she had a relationship with a superior officer who controller her employment and he did not disclose the relationship. She said she reported the incidents to the Town of Watertown’s Personnel Department but the only result she saw was a one-hour course on sexual discrimination in the workplace.

Sports

Watertown Girls Soccer Tourney Run Ends in Round of 16

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior co-captain Shannon Fitzpatrick dribbles the ball against Dedham in the State Tournament Round of 16. DEDHAM — The run of success in the MIAA Div. 3 Girls Soccer Tournament came to an end for Watertown High School Wednesday night when the Raiders falling 2-0 to 10th seeded Dedham. Charlie BreitroseWatertown freshman Elsa Ryan battles for the ball against Dedham in the State Tournament game. The Raiders reached the Round of 16 with a pair of tournament wins.

Government

See How Watertown Voted in the 2022 State Election

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Charlie Breitrose

Democrats fared better in Watertown than in Massachusetts as a whole in the 2022 State Election, and a majority of city voters supported all four of the ballot questions. More than half of Watertown’s registered voters turned out for the Nov. 8 election, with 13,624 (53.3 percent) of the 25,560 registered voters casting ballots, according to the City Clerk’s election results. In the race for governor and lieutenant governor, Democrats Maura Healey and Kim Driscoll received 77.6 percent of the vote in Watertown, with 10,574 votes. Republicans Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen received 2,733 votes. Libertarians Kevin Reed and Peter Everett got 179 votes.

Sports

Watertown Field Hockey Moves onto Round of 8 After 7-0 Win

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown field hockey team celebrates after Molly Driscoll, holding her stick aloft, scored against Ashland in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament. Ashland kept Watertown off the board for nearly all of the first quarter at Victory Field on Tuesday, but by the time the quarter ended the Raiders had all the lead they would need to win the MIAA Div. 3 Round of 16 field hockey game. The final score was 7-0.

Around Town

Students & Seniors Can Sign Up for Snow Shoveling Program, Pizza Party for Last Year’s Participants

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The Watertown Recreation Department announced that signups for the 2022-23 Watertown Snow Shoveling Program. Students can sign up to help an older resident, and Watertown seniors can sign up to have their property shoveled. The Rec Department will throw a pizza party for last year’s participants. The Recreation Department provided the following information:

Snow Shoveling Program

In coordination with the Watertown Middle School, Watertown High School, Recreation Department, Council on Aging/Senior Center, and the Marshall Home Fund, we are offering a snow-shoveling program specifically for our senior residents over age 60, and those who are disabled.  

Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School students are matched with senior residents in their neighborhood and assigned to be responsible for shoveling snow from the sidewalks, steps, and driveways for the duration of the winter season.

Sports

Watertown Girls Soccer Scores Second Tourney at Weston

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Markus Spiske

Watertown High School’s girls soccer team defeated Weston on Sunday in the MIAA Div. 3 Tournament to move on to the Round of 16. The Raiders beat seventh seeded Weston 2-1 in the Round of 32 game. The last time Watertown’s girls soccer team advance was in 2011, when a tournament run ended in the North Section Semis (equivalent to the Round of 16) against St. Mary’s.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Arrested After Kicking In Door, Shoplifter Caught in Target Parking Lot

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

Oct. 30, 2:45 a.m.: A witness called 911 after seeing a man breaking the glass front door of a business on Walnut Street and entering the building. Police responded and found the suspect walking up Walnut Street. The man said he was trying to locate a friend and thought it was his building.