Citizens Police Academy

OP-ED: Watertown Citizen Police Academy an Eye-Opening Experience

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By Ruth Thomasian

“Understanding through Education.” That’s how Chief Michael Lawn announced the reintroduction of the Watertown Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy in the fall of 2016. Two decades ago Watertown’s first Citizen Police Academy began, and ran from 1996-2008, with Capt. Ray Dupuis as its Director. Well over 200 Watertown citizens enrolled in those 10-week classes, held in the old police station’s makeshift classroom. It was entirely funded with federal grants. Students gave it rave reviews, but when funding ended, so did the Academy.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Stolen Credit Card Used for Shopping Spree, Window Broken at High School

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Dec. 31, 1:12 p.m.: Police received a call about a man sleeping in his car and officers responded to check on his well being. They found the man in his car asleep at the wheel and he had open beer bottles, including one in the cup holder of the center console. Police awoke the man and performed field sobriety tests, and he passed all of them.

Police/Fire

Police Collecting Winter Clothing for Children During MLK Day of Service Drive

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The Watertown Police Department will collect children’s clothing as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Donations of like-new children’s items will be accepted at the Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St., Watertown, from rom Jan. 9 to 16. The items will be given to Cradles to Crayons, which will give them to children ages 0-12 who are living in homeless or low-income situations to use at school. They seek winter coats (girls and boys size infant to 18/20 or adult medium), winter boots (boys and girls size infant, child 0-13 and adult 1-10) and other winter clothing (newborn, child size 18/20 or adult medium).

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Attacked After Following Car Home, Driver Busted on OUI

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Dec. 17, 1:23 a.m.: An officer patrolling in Watertown Square spotted a vehicle in the left turn lane on Main Street go straight when the left arrow was green by the light for straight was red. The officer followed and saw the vehicle weave over the center line multiple times. The officer pulled over the driver on Arsenal Street and observed signs of intoxication.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Faces OUI Charge After Hit-and-Run, Pedestrian Punched by Driver

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Dec. 8, 11:20 p.m.: A passerby called police after spotting a man sleeping in a vehicle on Main Street and Waverley Avenue. When an officer approached, he saw the man sleeping with his head on the center console, and after a few attempts he was able to wake the man. The man showed signs of intoxication and admitted to drinking alcohol before driving.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Officer Gets the Hollywood Treatment for ‘Patriots Day’ Movie

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The past several months have been a whirlwind Hollywood experience for Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese. As one of the Watertown Police officers who faced off in a firefight with the Boston Marathon Bombers, Pugliese is portrayed in the movie “Patriots Day,” by veteran actor J.K. Simmons. Wednesday night, Pugliese and his wife attended the first Boston premiere of the movie (which stars Mark Wahlberg) at the Wang Theater, and before Thanksgiving the couple was whisked off to Los Angeles for the premiere. “We got the red carpet treatment in L.A. It was an experience,” Pugliese said.