Police/Fire

Retiring Watertown Detective to Share His Crime Investigating Knowledge & Work on Cold Cases

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Longtime Watertown Police Detective David MacNeil is moving on to new challenges, including teaching crime scene investigation and working on cold cases. (Photo by Leah O’Brien Photography)

During his time at the Watertown Police Department, David MacNeil has trained at national crime investigation centers, taught trainings himself, he was the inspiration for a character in books and movies, and he got to visit Scotland Yard. Now, in his retirement, the Watertown native plans to share what he’s learned with others in law enforcement, and to help solve cold cases. MacNeil retired at the end of April after 36 years as a Watertown Police officer, including the last 22 as a detective. He is now the president of MacNeil Investigations & Forensic Consulting where he will focus on private investigations, and training law enforcement in crime scene investigation practices and forensic science.

Around Town

What Do You Remember About Watertown’s Most Historic Event of Recent Times

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An evidence photo of Dave Henneberry’s boat parked on Franklin Street, where Marathon Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found. The Boston Marathon bombings rocked the region 10 years ago this month, and a few days later the situation really got personal for Watertown residents when police tracked down the bombers, battled in the streets of the East End, and then spent the next day searching for the suspect who fled the scene. Watertown News is collecting people’s memories, photos and videos from that time from people who lived here at the time, people who now live here and remember watching the coverage, and other related memories. Some have already written in, recalled getting in touch with her mother, who was awakened by gunshots and explosions. A Westside resident remembers how quiet the day of the search was, as she sat on her porch, while her friend in East Watertown had her home searched by police.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Hero’s Ending: Watertown Police Sergeant Who Helped Capture Boston Marathon Bombers Retires

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese is interviewed along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers at the press conference for the 2016 movie “Patriots Day.” The final day of May 2021 also marked the final day in a long career for one of the heroes of the Watertown Police Department who faced off with the Boston Marathon Bombers. Sgt. Jeff Pugliese worked his final shift on Memorial Day, and received congratulations from family, friends and fellow officers at the Watertown Police Station.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Disheartened by Courts Overturning of Tsarnaev Sentence

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The day after a Federal Appeals Court overturned the death sentence for convicted Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Watertown Police Department released a statement saying its members are “disheartened” by the ruling. The Watertown Police statement reads:

“The members of the Watertown Police Department are disheartened by the decision of the United States Federal Appeals Court to overturn the death penalty sentence of the Boston Marathon bomber. His unconscionable acts of terrorism during the 2013 Boston Marathon and subsequent days, has forever altered the lives of so many. We continue to mourn the loss of thosewho died; our hearts are always with their families and the hundreds of survivors impacted by this tragic event. #watertownstrong #bostonstrong”

The First Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the sentence, and said that Judge George O’Toole didn’t do enough to make sure jurors were not tainted by pretrial publicity, according to a WBUR report.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Say Goodbye to a Hero & a Good Guy

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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

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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.

Around Town

Boston Marathon Bomber Appeal Coming Up; Court Docs Show Brother Suspected in Waltham Murders

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The case of convicted Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be in court soon to appeal the conviction, and recently unsealed documents related to the case show that the FBI believes his older brother Tamerlan was a prime suspect in the killing of three men in Waltham in 2011. Dzhokhar’s appeal of the death sentence for his role in the Boston Marathon Bombings is scheduled to go before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Dec. 12. The Boston Globe reported that court documents unsealed before the appeal implicate Tamerlan Tsarnaev with the the killings of three men in Waltham — Brendan Mess, 25, Erik H. Weissman, 31, and Raphael M. Teken, 37. Tamerlan died after the shootout with Watertown Police at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street.

Charity

Registration Open for Watertown Police Finish Strong 5K Run/Walk

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Once again this year the Watertown Police Department will host a 5K run and walk to commemorate the anniversary of the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. 

The Watertown Police Finish Strong 5k Run/Walk begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, 2018 starting and finishing at Tufts Health Plan 705 Mount Auburn Street in Watertown. Mission: The Watertown Police Relief Association, Watertown Supervisors Association and Watertown Patrol officers Association will commemorate the 5th anniversary of the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects by inviting the community to fill the streets of Watertown in a 5K celebratory road race and walk.Proceeds to benefit the WPRA, WPSA and the WPA. Proceeds from this event will benefit the WPSA, local charity & victim funds, One Fund, Watertown Police Foundation and the new foundation to support youth community programming and school safety initiatives

Course: The course is fast and fairly flat 3.1 miles (5k). Prizes to top male/female finishers plus various age categories. Runners and walkers welcome and for safety purposes, no skateboards, rollerblades/skates, bicycles, or animals can be taken on the course.