Around Town

LETTER: Former Watertown Middle School Teacher Looks to Heal, Rebuild Relationships in Spirit of MLK Jr.

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The following letter was written to you, my Watertown community, almost a year ago. It was written upon Watertown News’ request for a statement from me on March 5th, 2021. As an employee of the Watertown Public Schools, I was not permitted to make such a statement at any time over the past year. Having now resigned from WPS, I would love the opportunity to share my thoughts with you and hopefully work towards some healing and rebuilding of the fractured relationships that last year’s incidents engendered. I can’t think of a better time to do this than Martin Luther King Day 2022.

Police/Fire

Police Seek Information About Broken Window at Watertown Business

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Someone threw a traffic cone through a window of a store on Main Street, and Watertown Police seek information about the incident. Police believe the vandalism to Bling Boutique occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, Jan. 5. We are seeking info on a vandalism that occurred at Bling, 104 Main St. Believed to have happened during early morning hours today (1/5).

Police/Fire

Two Watertown Homes Broken Into This Week, Residents Were Home During One

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Residents should be sure to lock the doors and windows of their homes, Watertown Police said, after a pair of break-ins this week. On Friday, the Watertown Police Department put out messages on social media alerting the public to the incidents. The first one occurred on Lovell Road on Dec. 21, and police said entry was gained through a rear locked door sometime between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m.

In the late hours of Dec. 23, a Common Street home was broken into.

Police/Fire

SUV Crosses Mt. Auburn Street, Runs into Building After Driver Has Medical Incident

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A car drifted across three lanes of traffic on Mt. Auburn Street, went up onto the sidewalk and ran into the side of a building, later Thursday morning. Watertown Police said that the driver had a medical issue, that led to the accident. Police received a report of the accident at 11:12 a.m. on Thursday. The SUV had just crossed Watertown Square from Galen Street and went eastbound on Mt.

Police/Fire

Pair Arrested on Drug Charges in Investigation Aided by Residents’ Tips

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Two men face drug-related charges following an investigation that started with information provided by residents of the neighborhood. On Nov. 3, the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force arrested two men who they had been investigating for about three months. The task force includes a detective from the Watertown Police Department. Residents of the area reported seeing suspicious activity at the home of 42-year-old Eric Fossitt on Pilgrim Road in Watertown, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor.

Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Dissatisfied by Public Safety Committee Process, Endorses Council Candidate & Charter Changes

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I have serious concerns about how Councilor Feltner has used her position of power as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety and it is one of the strong reasons I will not be voting for her for District B Councilor. I will be voting for Tiffany York for District B Councilor, and urge fellow neighbors in District B to join me because this is a critical time to have Councilors with competency in what justice, equity, diversity and inclusion means and how to actually create it on the next Town Council. As a light-skinned person of mixed African and European heritage who presents as white to most people, I benefit from an enormous amount of skin privilege and see it as my responsibility to speak up as I am able to when I see and experience racism, and to work to make our community safer for all residents. And it is hard. While I don’t experience most skin discrimination, I have ancestrally inherited fears of targeting and reprisals when being brave enough to speak up.

Police/Fire

Firefighters, Police, Others Honored for Saving Girl’s Life, 3 Firefighters Sworn In

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Firefighters, Police, and civilian employees who helped save the life of 11-year-old Rachel Patterson, pose with the Patterson family. Several awards were presented at a ceremony on Oct. 18. A dozen people received awards for their part in saving the life of a girl in July who was not breathing. Also during the ceremony the three newest members of the Watertown Fire Department officially received their badges.

Around Town

Video Series Will Give Inside Look at Watertown Police, Features Dozens of Officers

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A series of videos debuting this week will give people an inside look at the Watertown Police Department, and allow them to get to know some of the officers and others working for the WPD. Behind the Badge, which will be available on the Watertown Police social media accounts, has been more than a year in the making, said Dan McCarthy, who co-produced the series with Mark Chambers. McCarthy and his production team spoke with more than 20 officers, and conducted more than 30 interviews, including civilian employees, McCarthy said. The 10 episodes will be about 7 to 10 minutes long, and each has two features along with a mini feature. “Some of the features include an in depth look at the dispatch for police and fire, the canine, the (Student Resource Officer), we go out on the road with Don Pham and the motorcycle unit” McCarthy said.