Government

Funding of Watertown Police, Requests to Divert Some of Budget Discussed at Council Hearing

By |

How the Watertown Police Department’s budget is used, and whether there are other ways the money could be spent became a major topic of discussions of Wednesday night’s Fiscal Year 2021 Town Budget Hearing. The WPD budget was just one of many departmental budgets discussed during the hearing, but it garnered the interested of Councilors and members of the public, many of whom wanted to see a portion spent on mental health services provided by the town instead. The meeting was held remotely over Zoom. The Police Department’s budget of $10.3 million makes up 6.76 percent of the Town’s operating budget. The WPD has 70 police officers (including 52 patrol officers), nine dispatchers and four civilian employees, as well as the school crossing guards.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Accepting Applications for Citizens Police Academy

By |

For the 30th time, the Watertown Police Department will be hosting the Watertown Citizens Police Academy. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn sent out the following information:

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! 10 WEEK PROGRAM – Fall 2020

WHERE: Watertown Police Station

WHEN: Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m.

WHAT: Watertown Police Officers share and exchange information designed to educate residents with police operations, policies & procedures and community policing programs of the police department. TOPICS INCLUDE:Constitutional Law, Motor Vehicle Law, Community Policing/Programs, K-9Unit, Use of Force, Domestic Violence, Patrol Procedures, ALICE, DefensiveTactics & Courtroom Procedures, Crime Scene Investigation, NarcoticEnforcement and a discussion relative to the President’s Task Force on 21stCentury Policing. Students will have the opportunity to participate in ride-alongs with officers on patrol and tour the police station.

Around Town

Second Vigil for Black Lives Draws Crowd, Some Controversy; Council Pres. Makes Statement on Issue

By |

Protesters at the Vigil for Black Lives in Watertown Square on Tuesday hold signs and wave at passing cars. A few hundred people came out. For the second week in a row, hundreds showed up in Watertown Square to remember George Floyd and protest against racial inequity. Tuesday’s event included a march to the Square, and also chalk drawings which became the focus of some disagreements. Also Tuesday, Town Council President Mark Sideris read a statement during the Town Council meeting supporting the protest, but adding that he did not support efforts to defund or cut funding to the Watertown Police Department.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Scammed for Over $20K, Plaque Stolen from Veteran’s Grave

By |

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

None

Incidents

May 18 3:06 p.m.: Police were contacted by an Standish Road resident and her daughter after they found unusual activity on her bank account. She received a notice from their bank about several pre-authorized withdrawals from the account, and an estimated $30,000 had been taken and deposited into an unknown PayPal account. The account has been frozen by the bank and the family. They were able to recover approximately $22,000.

Community Policing

Watertown Police Release Statement About George Floyd’s Death

By |

Watertown Police Station

The men and women of the Watertown Police Department are deeply disturbed by the death of Mr. George Floyd.  We share the public’s outrage and disappointment, and will not let the actions of a few officers tear away the trust we share with our great community. 

Please see Chief Lawn’s response to emails he received concerning this horrific incident. Good Afternoon-

The men and women of the Watertown Police Department are deeply disturbed by the actions of those police officers in Minneapolis. I personally was sick to my stomach watching that video. I am very proud of the work that the men and women of the WPD do every day. We should not be judged or painted with the same brush by incidents that occur in other states.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Say Goodbye to a Hero & a Good Guy

By |

Sgt. John MacLellan greets one of the many people who came out to say goodbye to him at his retirement ceremony on Tuesday. Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn summarized Sgt. John MacLellan’s career saying “The world would be a better place if there were John MacLellans in it.” Tuesday afternoon, one of the men involved in the shootout with and capture of the Boston Marathon Bombers got a hero’s farewell at the Watertown Police Station.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Career Highlight for One of the Heroes of the Watertown Shootout: Helping Others

By |

As Watertown Sgt. John MacLellan approaches retirement, he said the best part of being a police officer is helping others. Here he looks for toys with a young boy during the Shop With a Cop event at Target in 2015. When asked about the highlights of his career with the Watertown Police Department, Sgt. John MacLellan did not point to the night that he tangled with Boston Marathon Bombers, but rather being able to help people.

Police/Fire

Police Seek Help Stopping Scam Aimed at Elderly Residents

By |

The Watertown Police Department warns that a scam targeting older residents has been reported recently, and asks residents to alert family, friends and neighbors. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Elderly Scam Advisory

Important Information!!! REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE

There is currently a group of individuals targeting senior citizens by way of a telephone scam in our community as well as several Metro-Boston cities and towns. An unidentified person will telephone an unsuspecting elder and say that the elder’s grandchild is currently in jail due to some prior event. The unknown suspect will say that they are a lawyer representing the“grandchild” and request the elder to obtain an amount of money to bail the “grandchild” out of jail.