Police/Fire

Firefighters Battle Two Alarm Fire, Slowed by Snow Around Hydrants

By |

Charlie Breitrose

Watertown Firefighters battled a blaze on Flint Road on Tuesday, and efforts were slowed because some hydrants in the area were not shoveled out after Monday’s storm. A resident heard a smoke alarm at about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and found a fire on the third floor. A second alarm was ordered quickly by incident commander Deputy Chief Daniel Tardif to ensure adequate resources and support for the firefighting operations, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. Flames could be seen coming out of the roof of the home in the footage from NBC 10 Boston.

Government

City Manager Clarifies Watertown’s Role in Immigration Enforcement

By |

Questions about immigration enforcement in Watertown are something that City Manager George Proakis has heard a lot recently, and he provided some information about the role of the Watertown Police and what they can and cannot do when federal agents are operating in town. Proakis went into detail about several topics related to federal immigration enforcement and how the local law enforcement can interact, or not, during the Feb. 10 City Council meeting. “I’ve received some questions recently about the relationship between local government and federal immigration enforcement. As we’ve seen federal officers more actively seeking and arresting people in the surges that they’ve done many communities, I’ve been asked what this means for Watertown,” Proakis said.

Government

Watertown Cancelling Contract for Flock License Plate Reading Cameras

By |

Watertown will cancel the contract with Flock Safety to install license plate reading cameras in the City, and City Manager George Proakis told the City Council he wants to continue to have discussions about when it is appropriate for the Watertown Police to use technology in its investigations. The City signed a contract last year with Flock with plans to install eight cameras. Proakis announced the end of the contract at the Jan. 27 City Council meeting, but said he would like the City Council to discuss use of technology by the Watertown Police Department. The cameras became a topic of discussion in recent months as more communities install them, and others have removed them due to concerns about how the data collected by the cameras is being used, and who has access to it.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters Douse Chimney Fire on Sunday

By |

Watertown firefighters put out a fire in a chimney on Mt. Auburn Street. (Photo from the Watertown Fire Department)

The Watertown Fire Department used special equipment to battle a fire that started in a chimney on Sunday on Mt. Auburn Street, and also sent out a warning for residents with fireplaces. The WFD sent out the following announcement on social media:

This morning companies extinguished a chimney fire on Mount Auburn Street.

Government

Residents Express Concerns About Using Flock License Plate Reading Cameras in Watertown

By |

Members of the Watertown Police Department discussed different technology used by the WPD, including a proposal to use the Flock Safety cameras. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A room full of residents expressed their concerns about the Watertown Police Department’s proposed use of Flock Safety cameras in town, with the biggest issues about how the images collected by the license plate capturing system would be used outside Watertown and who would have access. As the debate over whether cameras should be used in the City, legislation at the state level could help reduce concerns. The Flock cameras were one of several technologies available to the Watertown Police discussed during the Tech Talk at Hosmer School on Wednesday night. While body cameras, tasers, an AI-assisted police bulletin network, and other equipment interested the 30 or so in attendance, the Flock cameras garnered the most attention in the meeting that lasted nearly three hours.