Citizens Police Academy

Watertown Police Bring Back Citizens Police Academy, Sign Up Now

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After several years on hiatus, the Watertown Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy is back, and residents can sign up now. 

Classes will begin on Oct. 26, and will be held each Wednesday for seven weeks from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn brought back the Citizens Police Academy as part of the WPD’s community policing effort. “It was a very successful program. People really enjoyed it,” Lawn said. “And with all that’s going on in policing today I figured this is a good time to bring it back.”

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Arrest Man on Charge of Calling in a Bomb Threat

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Watertown Police tracked down the man who allegedly called in a bomb threat to a local worksite despite the suspect’s attempt to throw them off the track. 

On Sept. 26, State Police received a 911 call from a person saying there was a bomb at a building on Bridge Street, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. Watertown Police were contacted and went to the address to evacuate the building, which is under renovation. State Police also provided the phone number from which the bomb threat came, and Watertown Police were able to identify the owner as a man named Lawrence Benjamin of Lowell. During the investigation, Watertown Police received a call from a man claiming he owned the cell phone.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Offering Citizens Police Academy, Sign Up Now

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The Watertown Police Department announced the return of the Citizens Police Academy, and the latest class will begin on Oct. 5. The aim of the academy is to familiarize residents with the operations of the Watertown Police Department. Another goal of the citizens academy is to increase citizen-police interaction and cooperation. “It is our intention after the completion of this seven week course, participants will have a better understanding of the police officer’s role in the criminal justice system and an appreciation of the many challenges facing law enforcement in today’s society,” reads a letter about the program written by Police Capt. Raymond DuPuis.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Officer Running from Springfield to Boston for Charity

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When Brandon O’Neill wakes up Friday morning, instead of getting ready to patrol the streets of Watertown he will get ready for a run – one which will take more than a day and cover 106 miles. O’Neill, who has been on the Watertown Police Department for six years, will take part in theSpringfield Ride to Remember. This is the fourth ride, which started to raise public awareness of officers who have died in the line of duty, and to raise funds for the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial in Boston. This year’s ride is dedicated to Officer Ronald Tarentino, Jr. of the Auburn Police and Mass. State Trooper Thomas Clardy, both of whom died in the course of duty in 2016.

Around Town

One of the Heroes of the Watertown Shootout Addresses the Rotary Club

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese, one of the officers who took on the Boston Marathon bombers in the Watertown Shootout, recently spoke with the Rotary Club of Watertown. Pugliese is a 37 year veteran of the Watertown Police Department. He shared some of the terrifying and horrific details from that night and gave Rotary members more insight into the event.

Police/Fire

Man Tries to Gain Entry to Elderly Woman’s Home Posing as Utility Worker

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A man saying he was from the utility company tried to gain access to an elderly woman’s home in a suspected scam. A Beechwood Avenue resident reported an unknown male came to her door claiming he was from a utility company. He said that they would be shutting down the electricity in the area for three days, so he wanted to set up a generator in her back yard, according to Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “He said he would have to have access to the interior of her house and her backyard,” O’Connor said. The woman said he also asked how her “hubby” was doing?

Police/Fire

Woman Followed by Strange Man While Running Through Watertown

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A woman reported being followed by a stranger on her run around Watertown, and he approached her two separate times, according to police. A couple driving through Coolidge Square stopped a police officer and a 35-year-old woman told the officer she was followed by a man just about 15 minutes earlier, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “She was out on Aug. 25 about 6:30 p.m. running down Common Street toward Watertown Square,” O’Connor said. “She got the feeling she was being followed and she stopped and turned around and saw the same man stopping and starting to walk.”

Police/Fire

Thief Uses Unusual Method to Rob Watertown Gas Station

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Like something you would see on a television show, a Watertown gas station was robbed when someone cut through a wall and stole money from the office safe. On July 25 at 7:15 a.m., an employee of AAA Auto Service on Main Street discovered the safe in the gas station’s office was forced open. An undisclosed amount of money was taken, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “Sometime during the overnight hours someone went into the bathroom – the door of was left unlocked,” O’Connor said. “The person went in an chiseled through the cement block wall, which led to the office where the safe was.”