Around Town

Hundreds Celebrate Watertown Strong Spirit at 3rd Annual 5K Run

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Nearly 500 runners and walkers came out to take part in the race that was created to celebrate the spirit shown in Watertown after the capture of the Boston Marathon Bombers. 

Participants in third annual Watertown Strong 5K enjoyed sunny weather on Sunday. New Police Chief Michael Lawn thanked all those who came out to join in the race, or just to come watch. He remembered how the Watertown community pulled together during the lockdown and celebrated after the the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on April 19, 2013. Retired-Police Chief Edward Deveau also attended the event, which started and ended at Tufts Health Plan. As she has the last two years, Caillie Hughes performed her song “That Night” and sang the National Anthem before the race.

Around Town

Police Host Watertown Strong 5K; World Marathon Champ Will Attend

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Sign up now for the third annual Watertown Strong 5K Run/Walk hosted by the Watertown Police, and meet the World Marathon Challenge Champion. The Watertown Police Supervisor’s Association will commemorate the anniversary of the events that led to the capture of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects by inviting the community to fill the streets of Watertown in a celebratory 5K road race. World Marathon Challenge champion Becca Pizzi, of Belmont, who ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days and won them all, will be at the Watertown Strong Race. The event will be Sunday, April 17, 2016 beginning at Tufts Health Plan, 705 Mt. Auburn St.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Announces Promotions, Swearing In of New Officers

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The Watertown Police recently announced the promotion of two of its officers, and the swearing in of two new recruits. Chief Michael P. Lawn announced the promotions of Sgt. Kenneth C. Delaney to the rank to lieutenant and Officer Kenneth J. Swift to the rank of sergeant. A swearing inceremony was held at the Watertown Police Station on February 2, 2016. Lt. Delaney has been a police officer for the last 23 years, working for the Shrewsbury and Westford Police Departments prior to becoming a Watertown Police Officer in 2007. Lt. Delaney’s new assignment will be as a shift commander in the night patrol division.

Cancer

Watertown Family Receives Money from Cops for Kids with Cancer

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Three-year-old Max Heiniluoma was diagnosed with cancer in October, and has been given a two-year treatment program. While his family’s health insurance covers most of the cost, there are many co-payments and lost wages when Max is in hospital. That’s where Cops for Kids with Cancer steps in. Last week, Robert Faherty, chairman of the board for the non-profit group, came to the Watertown Police Station to present Max’s father Andrew with a $5,000 check to help pay for the costs that insurance doesn’t cover. Andrew heard about Cops for Kids with Cancer and was told to contact his local police department.

Business

Kids in Need Get to Shop with a Cop for Christmas Presents at Target

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Dozens of children from Watertown and Brighton got a special Christmas treat this week when they got to pick out toys and other gifts for themselves at Target with a police officer. Shop With a Cop has become a tradition at Watertown Target. This year about 40 children who may not have a gift got to have some pizza before heading out into the aisles to look for gifts. Each received a $50 gift card to spend. “We’ve been doing this for the last three or four years,” said Jonathan Kingsley, Target’s district loss prevention manager.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Warn: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

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Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, the Watertown Police Department will join the 202 local law enforcement agencies and the Massachusetts State Police running extra patrols through the New Year as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization, the Watertown Police announced. This campaign is funded by a federal grant administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD). “When you make the choice to drive drunk, people get injured and killed,” said Sergeant David Sampson. “The safest way to get home is to never drink and drive.  If you plan on drinking at a holiday party or at a restaurant, take a taxi or public transportation or hand the keys over to a sober friend.”

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2014 in Massachusetts, 133 people were killed in crashes that involved drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Nationally, in December of 2013, there were 733 people killed in crashes involving at least one driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, and 23 of those deaths occurred on Christmas Day. Getting caught drunk behind the wheel is no small matter; you face jail time, fines, loss of driver’s license, towing fees, and other OUI expenses, totaling $10,000 on average.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Holding Training for Active Shooter Situations

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The Watertown Police will hold a training for community members interested in learning about dealing with an active shooter event. The training features parts of the ALICE model for schools, and the Department of Homeland Security Run, Hide, Fight model for businesses, according to the Watertown Police announcement. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (see below for more info). “In light of recent events, the WPD feels that it is important to empower the community with response options for active shooter events should the unthinkable happen,” the announcement said. The training will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Community Room in the Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Threatens Police with Scissors, Home Rummaged Through

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Oct. 23, 2:21 p.m.: Police responded to a disturbance at 20 Watertown Street and found a man who said he felt like hurting himself. The man was sitting on a couch holding a pair of scissors. Police ordered the man to put down the scissors but the man refused multiple times.