Police/Fire

Watertown Police Faced Real-Life Scenarios in the Middlesex Sheriff’s Mobile Training Center

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Watertown Police Officer Mike Hill looks at the screen in the Middlesex Sheriff Office’s Mobile Training Center. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A trailer parked on a vacant lot in Watertown appeared quiet and tranquil from the outside, but inside Watertown Police officers faced intense situations in which they sometimes had to draw their firearms and even fire real bullets. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office recently parked its Mobile Training Center on the former Sterritt Lumber site on Waltham Street for a week, so that the Watertown Police could take part in real world simulations with videos while using their own equipment. Lt. Kevin McManus, who oversees the WPD’s Training Division, said having the training center in town allows officers to go through some of the most realistic training while having the convenience of going through it while they are on a normal shift. The training center uses a system created by Laser Shot, and offers more than 600 different scenarios.

Police/Fire

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Youth Public Safety Academy Graduation

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Cadets from Watertown graduated from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy. (Courtesy of Middlesex Sheriff)

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

Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy cadets from Arlington/Cambridge, Belmont/Watertown, Burlington and Tyngsborough were recognized during a graduation ceremony held at Chelmsford High School on Friday, Aug. 4. Middlesex Special Sheriff Amoroso Cefalo was joined by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan; Tyngsborough Town Manager Matthew Hanson; Watertown Police Chief Thomas Rocca and officials from all the communities to honor the graduates. Now in its 22nd year, YPSA is focused on providing cadets with educational lessons around personal and family safety and other health and wellness topics.

Around Town

Registration Open for Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Charlie BreitroseA cadet in the Middlesex Youth Public Safety Academy uses the fire hose as at Saltonstall Park. The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Registration for the 2023 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has announced. 

YPSA is an educational, low-cost summer camp option for Middlesex County families. The camp is open to children ages 8-12 and will be held at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford.  

“Thanks to our highly dedicated staff and our incredible public safety partners, YPSA has become one of our most recognizable and powerful community-based programs,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “Throughout the course of the summer, cadets will learn valuable public safety lessons from the same corrections professionals, police officers and firefighters who protect our communities each day.  By participating in a variety of fun-filled activities, cadets also build critical teamwork skills that they can carry into their everyday lives.” 

YPSA is comprised of five, one-week camps. This year, the camp will kick-off during the week of July 10 through July 14, and will continue through the week of August 7 to August 11. 

Registration for each week is $100 per child and includes transportation to and from designated bus stops, daily breakfast and lunch, and graduation ceremony held each Friday. Participants are not required to reside in communities with a designated bus stop, but they will be picked up and dropped off at these locations. Cadets from Billerica and Chelmsford will be dropped off and picked up at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy.

Around Town

Registration Open for Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Children interact with local first responders during the Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy. The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Registration for the 2022 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) has opened and a limited number of spots remain available for youngsters between the ages of 8-12. Following two years of virtual sessions, YPSA will return in-person on July 11 and run through the first week of August. Due to continuing COVID-related considerations, restrictions and requirements, this year’s YPSA will contain some changes, including a reduction in the total number of cadets that will be able to attend. The camp has also been shortened from six weeks to four. “We’re excited to welcome cadets, their families and our public safety partners back for another tremendous summer of YPSA,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.

Police/Fire

Kids Can Join the Virtual Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Fire, bicycle and water safety as well as physical fitness will be the focus of this year’s Virtual Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA), the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office announced (preview video link). “We are excited to once again be able to offer a series of online lessons for youngsters living in our 54 cities and towns,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “While we are disappointed we are not able to meet in person this summer, our YPSA staff and community partners have put together an outstanding set of public safety and health lessons for children and families.”

This year’s Virtual YPSA sessions will be available on the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels during the week of August 15–21. Each lesson will run between approximately 20-25 minutes in length. The first episode — recorded on site at the Wilmington Fire Department — will focus on fire and kitchen safety with a bonus feature on making homemade grilled cheese. It will be released on August 16. 

Episode number two – recorded in conjunction with the Cambridge Police Department and Middlesex District Attorney’s Office — will center on bicycle and water safety. It will premiere on August 18. The final episode will be focused on physical fitness and will be available on August 20. That lesson was recorded at Malden’s Macdonald in partnership with the Malden Recreation Department.

Around Town

Sheriff’s Office Offering Virtual Youth Public Safety Academy

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

Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian is inviting Middlesex County families to participate in a series of live, virtual Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) events beginning July 29 at 10 a.m.

The virtual series will replace the annual in-person camp designed for youngsters ages 8-12 that was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. “YPSA is one of our most successful community programs,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Each year, more than 1,000 youngsters participate alongside our staff and other public safety professionals from across Middlesex County.  Not only do participants learn value safety lessons, but they build relationships with the public safety professionals who work hard to keep them safe.  This virtual series will allow us to maintain and strengthen the important connections we strive to make with our county’s youngest residents.”

The live session will include videos and presentations on important public safety topics. Families wishing to register for the series can email YPSA@sdm.state.ma.us to learn more.

Police/Fire

Watertown Cadets Graduate from Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Watertown residents recently completed the the MIddlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Public Safety Academy. The following announcement was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian congratulated over 150 graduates of the Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) from Acton, Belmont, Marlborough, Maynard and Watertown during a ceremony at Chelmsford High School on Friday, July 19, 2019. It was the second of six such graduations planned for this summer. For six weeks each summer, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) offers youngsters ages 8-12 from Middlesex County communities the opportunity to participate in educational and confidence-building activities alongside members of the MSO as well as their local police and fire departments. YPSA staff incorporate multiple learning styles to teach personal safety and teamwork while building relationships between youth and public safety officials. Cadets from Watertown graduated from the MIddlesex Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Public Safety Academy.

Around Town

Watertown Campers Complete Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

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Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian recognized 189 Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) cadets from Watertown, Acton, Malden, Maynard and Newton during a graduation ceremony Friday, Aug. 3 at Chelmsford High School. Thirty-five of the graduating cadets were from Watertown. During the course of the week, the cadets participated in team building exercises, learned fire and personal safety skills and enjoyed educational games.  They also spent time with members of the MSO staff and their local police and fire departments. “Year after year, YPSA is one of the most well-received community outreach programs we run,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “It’s a great opportunity to build relationships between youngsters, the MSO and our public safety colleagues in fun-filled, educational settings.”

“YPSA is a great program, and a fantastic way to connect our youth and public safety professionals in a safe and positive atmosphere,” said Police Chief Michael Lawn.