Around Town

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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.

By |

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.

By |

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

By |

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.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Buy Family New Refrigerator After Officer Discovers They Were Facing Desperate Situation

By |

Watertown Police Officer Frank Forde. (Courtesy of Watertown Police)

A Watertown Police officer bought a family a new refrigerator after learning that a family was in a difficult situation and could not afford to replace their broken one. Officer Frank Forde learned that the family’s refrigerator stopped working, and that the father has a serious medical condition and he could not work, Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan in a post on the WPD Facebook account. “Officer Forde started a collection around the police station with numerous department members contributing and quickly raised money to purchase a new refrigerator for the family,” Hanrahan said. “This is just one example of the amazing work being done by the officers of the Watertown Police Department everyday.”