Around Town

Local Podcast Chats with Police Chief, the Library Director & a Dancer/Scientist; Also Hear the First Episode of Creative Chats

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Hear about the Watertown Police Chief’s unusual childhood, the library director’s career in books and libraries, and about a dancer/scientist in their conversations with Watertown podcast host Matt Hanna. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Justin Hanrahan

Meet Justin Hanrahan! He’s the Police Chief here in Watertown. In our conversation we get into his unconventional childhood and how the Watertown community was important in getting him through it, his early experiences in policing from protecting “boothies” to a career defining moment that instilled in him that policing is much more than just catching criminals, his rise through the ranks in Watertown and the shift in culture he’s been a part of, his impact in teaching and training departments all over the state, the changes he’s enacted in his time as chief and the programs and initiatives he’s looking forward to in the future.

Around Town

Toys Delivered to 100s of Watertown Families in Need by Police & Firefighters for the Whooley Foundation

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Some of the toys collected for the 2024 Sonny Whooley Foundation. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The mission given to 40 Watertown police officers and firefighters Tuesday morning was to fill boxes full of gifts, and then deliver them to more than 150 families around the Community. They had their choice of hundreds of toys, games, balls, even bicycles that filled the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station. All were donated to or purchased with funds given to the John “Sonny” Whooley Foundation, named after a former Watertown Police officer who would raise money and give it to families in need during the holidays. Watertown Police Justin Chief Hanrahan looked over the hive of activity as people packed boxes with gifts.

Around Town

Take a Polar Plunge with the Watertown Police to Raise Money for Special Olympics

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Members of the Watertown Police Department will be taking a chilly dip in February and they invite others to join them to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Watertown Police Officer Michael Scafidi will be organizing the Polar Plunge, which will take place at Arsenal Yards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 beginning at 11 a.m.

“There’s plunges going on all across the state and we decided to get onboard and do one here in Watertown. We are going to do it right in Bond Square in Arsenal Yards,” Scafidi said. Special Olympics will bring its mobile pool for the Polar Plunge, which is like a swimming pool on wheels.

Around Town

Meet the Police and Fire Chiefs at the Next Watertown Business Coalition Event

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host a talk with Watertown’s Police and Fire Chiefs at Cambridge Savings Bank. See details from the WBC below. Come meet the Chiefs on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cambridge Savings Bank in Watertown, 54 Arsenal St. Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan and Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson will talk a bit about what’s going on with their departments in the City, then we’ll open it up to questions.

Police/Fire

Second Suspect Arrested in Connection to Stabbing of a Man in Watertown

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A second man was arrested for being involved in the alleged stabbing that took place in Watertown on Oct. 22, the Watertown Police and Middlesex District Attorney’s Office announced. See details from the press release below. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Watertown Chief of Police Justin Hanrahan have confirmed that Omari Cassell, 18, of Newton, has been charged following the alleged stabbing that occurred in the area of Mt. Auburn and Boylston Streets in Watertown.

Police/Fire

Boston Man Arrested for Alleged Stabbing on Mt. Auburn St.

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The Watertown Police and Middlesex District Attorney’s office announced that an arrest has been made in the stabbing that occurred in Watertown on Tuesday. See the press release below. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Watertown Chief of Police Justin Hanrahan have confirmed that Michael McGhee, 19, of Boston, has been charged following the alleged stabbing that occurred in the area of Mt. Auburn and Boylston Streets in Watertown. On October 22, 2024, at approximately 5:15 p.m., police responded to several 911 calls reporting a disturbance in progress at the bus stop in the area of Mt.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Investigating Stabbing on Mt. Auburn St.

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Watertown Police are investigating a stabbing that occurred on Tuesday that sent one person to the hospital. The WPD sent out the following announcement on Facebook:

At 5 p.m. (Tuesday), the Watertown Police Department responded to a stabbing at the intersection of Mt. Auburn St. and Boylston St. The victim was approached by three males, which led to an altercation during which the victim was stabbed in the lower back.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Officer Saves Woman from Burning House

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Watertown Police Officer Michael Grzelcyk

The Watertown Police Department posted the following announcement on its Facebook page. Friday, October 11, 2024, Officer Michael Grzelcyk demonstrated extraordinary bravery during a working house fire on Winsor Ave. Upon arrival, he learned that a second-floor tenant, an elderly woman, was still inside. With Watertown Fire en route, Officer Grzelcyk entered the burning building alone, facing intense smoke and flames. Despite zero visibility, he made verbal contact with trapped woman.