The Watertown Police Department provided the following information:
The Arlington, Cambridge, Newton and Watertown Police Departments, in conjunction with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, Belmont Police Department and local community and faith-based organizations will partner to host the “Safer Homes, Safer Communities” regional gun buyback initiative over four Saturdays next month (June 8-29), officials announced today.
In 2016, a similar regional initiative – in which Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge and Watertown also participated – resulted in 150 unwanted firearms being turned in for destruction.
“We are glad to once again be assisting our law enforcement and community partners in this effort,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “Providing residents the opportunity to safely, securely dispose of unwanted firearms makes our homes and our communities safer, by reducing the chance of accidental discharge, self-harm and theft.”
“The Watertown Police Department is happy to support the gun buyback program,” said Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn. “Working with our regional partners in providing safe ways to dispose of unwanted firearms certainly makes our communities and homes safer places to live. Thank you to the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, our faith based partners, and financial donors for all your contributions to this significant initiative.”
While Belmont PD has in the past hosted a gun buyback site, it will this year be joining the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in assisting Watertown PD.
“We are proud to be working with our neighbors at Watertown PD and partners at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to support the gun buyback initiative and help the community safely dispose of unwanted firearms,” said Chief Richard McLaughlin.
Officials believe the regional approach will provide residents with additional opportunities to remove these unwanted firearms from their homes. Residents can turn in unwanted firearms at any of the sites and will have the option of receiving a gift card to a local business.
The buybacks will be held:
- June 8 in Cambridge from 9 a.m. – 12 Noon at the Reservoir Church (170 Rindge Ave.) and Pentecostal Tabernacle (77 Columbia St.)
- June 15 in Newton from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at The Second Church (61 Chestnut St.)
- June 22 in Watertown from 9 a.m. – 12 Noon at the First Parish Church (35 Church St.)
- June 29 in Arlington from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Department of Public Works (51 Grove St.)
Since 2013, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has assisted 11 municipal departments, with 20 total buybacks, resulting in nearly 1,000 unwanted weapons turned in.