Boston Marathon Bombing

Police Chief Wanted to Get Through Marathon Trial Before Retiring

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The timing of Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau’s retirement announcement, coming just weeks after the trial of the Boston Marathon Bomber wrapped up, was no coincidence. Deveau announced last week that he will retire after 14 years as chief and 32 years on the force. “I would have started to think about (retiring) if April 19 (2013) didn’t happen,” Deveau said. That day will loom large in the minds of all Watertown residents, but Deveau had as close a view to what happened as anyone who was not part of the shootout with the Tsarnaev brothers. After the firefight, which included homemade bombs, Deveau was part of the team making decisions during the subsequent manhunt and capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in a boat on Franklin Street.

Boston Marathon Bombing

With Marthon Bombing Trial Over, Police Can Talk About Shootout

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Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau said he can finally talk publicly about the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and he gave the Town Council some details. 

Monday night, Deveau talked about the shootout during the Police Department’s budget hearing in front of the Council. When asked by Councilor Aaron Dushku about the lessons learned from the incident in April 2013, Deveau said his officers have changed some of their training in reaction to the incident. As an example, the Watertown Police officers now train more with the rifles in their patrol cruisers. “One example, one of the things – I’d say this was was my responsibility, it was  my fault – we have patrol rifles in vehicle. When we got those I told the officers, ‘we’re putting them in but don’t touch them unless you need them.

Boston Marathon Bombing

MBTA Officer Hurt in Watertown Shootout Returns to Duty

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Sergeant Donohue pic.twitter.com/I6dRyG2uOt
— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) May 15, 2015
MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue almost lost his life during the shootout in Watertown with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, but after a long recovery he returned to duty this week, and got promoted! The MBTA Police held a promotion ceremony this week, and Donohue told WHDH Channel 7 that he is glad to be back on duty. See more by clicking here. Donohue also commented this week on the jury’s decision to give the death penalty to convicted Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. “Just over two years after the events that impacted us as a community and a nation, we can finally close this chapter in our lives.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Family Says Officer Died From Injuries From Shootout with Bombers in Watertown

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A Boston Police officer who collapsed and died last year may have died from injuries suffered during the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects in Watertown, and his family is seeking benefits related to the incident. On April 19, 2013 Boston Police Officer Dennis Simmonds reportedly rushed into Watertown, where officers were engaged in a fierce gun battle with the Tsarnaev brothers. Simmonds was allegedly knocked off his feet and suffered a head injury after one of the brothers threw an explosive that night. A year later, he collapsed and died while working out at the Boston Police Academy Gym. He was 28, and a six year veteran of the BPD.

Boston Marathon Bombing

NPR Investigates What Happened During Watertown Shootout, Manhunt

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WBUR reporter and Watertown resident Bruce Gellerman set out to figure out exactly what happened during the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, two years after the dramatic events in town. Gellerman put together a two-part audio timeline of the events for National Public Radio covering the events of April 18 and 19, 2013, when the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects carjacked a Mercedes SUV and got into a shootout with Watertown Police and the manhunt and ultimate capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The report played on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition includes interviews of Watertown Police, residents and police radio. Some of the interviews include information not included in the official report or presented at trial, in which the jury recently found Tsarnaev guilty. He said the recently released report looking at the Boston Marathon Bombing response and the shootout and manhunt in Watertown got some things wrong, and some things left out.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Councilor Wants a Community Forum on Watertown Shootout, Manhunt

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With the recent release of a comprehensive study of the response to the Boston Marathon Bombing and events that followed in Watertown that was critical of some of the actions of law enforcement, a Watertown Town Councilor wants to have a review of the shootout and manhunt. Councilor Susan Falkoff said she read the Boston Globe’s recent editorial called “What went wrong in Watertown.” The story detailed some of the shortcomings of the response by law enforcement, and said, “despite good intentions, the presence of hundreds of officers in Watertown put lives at risk and did nothing to assist the search.” At Tuesday’s Town Coucnil meeting, Falkoff said she wants to get some answers about what happened in Watertown on April 18 and 19, 2013. “The citizens of Watertown remain grateful for the work of the police, but the report states that the best practices were not followed,” Falkoff said.

Around Town

Help Out on One Boston Day at Watertown’s Filippello Park

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Volunteers are sought to help clean up Filippello Park on One Boston Day. 

Classic Rock Radio Station, WZLX – 100.7, is recruiting its listeners to help clean up Filippello Park as a service to the town of Watertown on April 15, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon, in commemoration of One Boston Day, “a holiday aimed at honoring ‘the resiliency, generosity and strength of the city’ on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.”

All are welcome to participate. Various town departments will be assisting the WZLX team with this effort. Please use the 195 Grove Street entrance. WZLX contact: Chris Rucker, 617-746-1462

Watertown Health Department contact: Deborah Rosati, 617-972-6446

Boston Marathon Bombing

Dic Donohue Donates Blood in Watertown; Watertown Strong Race Coming Up

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Blood recipients @DicDonohue and @Heather_Abbott1 prepare to donate blood at #Watertown High School! #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/2R8KxbC3oB

— MA Red Cross Blood (@RedCrossBloodMA) April 11, 201

MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue required dozens of blood products when he fought for his life after being shot during the Watertown Shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and Saturday he gave back. Donohue and Bombing survivor Heather Abbott came out for the second annual Red Cross Watertown Strong Blood Drive at Watertown High School on Saturday. This was the first time Donohue has donated blood since his injuries, according to Boston.com. Also on hand were Watertown Police Chief Edward Devaeau, Red Cross of Massachusetts CEO Jeff Meyer.