Police/Fire

Public Input on Selecting the Next Police Chief Wanted by City Manager

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The process for selecting Watertown’s next Police Chief has started and City Manager George Proakis will hold a meeting to hear from the public about selecting the next chief. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The City Manager is seeking community input as he starts the process of selecting the next police chief for the Watertown Police Department. Please join us on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 6:00 PM at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room. The Library is located at 123 Main Street in Watertown.

Police/Fire

Two Cars Stolen, Several Broken Into One Night in Watertown

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Police seek suspects connected to a string of car break-ins in a Watertown neighborhood that resulted in two vehicles being stolen. Overnight from July 7 to July 8, several residents of Standish Road, Lovell Road, Poplar Street Walcott Road and Merrill Road reported that their vehicles had been broken into, and two said their vehicles were missing. Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor said that a Nissan SUV was taken from Lovell Road, and later turned up on Merrill Road. And, a resident of Merrill Road reported that his Audi Q7 had been taken out of his driveway. The first report of a break-in came on July 8 at 2:37 a.m. Police responded to a Standish Road home, where a homeowner got an alert from her doorbell cam that there had been some movement in front of her home at 1:30 a.m. The video shows a suspect fleeing, and the resident discovered that her car’s center console and glove box had been rummaged through, but nothing was missing.

Police/Fire

Knife Wielding Man Tried to Rob Watertown Massage Spa, Resembles Suspect in Similar Incident

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Images of the suspect or suspects in armed robberies of massage businesses in Watertown, on the left, and Cambridge on the right. Police said it could be the same man. (Photos courtesy of the Watertown Police Department). On May 16, a man came into a Watertown massage spa carrying a knife and demanded money from an employee. Watertown Police said the suspect resembles a man wanted for robbing a massage business in Cambridge.

Police/Fire

UPDATED: Missing Watertown Man Located, Police Had Been Searching for Him

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Trea Starling

Watertown Police announced that the Watertown man reported missing on March 7 has been located out of state and is safe. His family has been notified. The original post:

The Watertown Police Department seek the public’s help locating a missing man. Missing Person

Mr. Trea Starling (21 yrs old) was reported missing and was last seen by family members during the morning of March 2, 2023, in the area of Spruce St. and School St.

Police/Fire

Man Faces Charges After Stabbing Dog That Attacked His Dog

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A Watertown man faces criminal charges after he allegedly stabbed a dog that was attacking his dog and would not release it. On Feb. 13, just before 6:30 p.m., police received a report of a fight between two dogs at Filippello Park. When they arrived the two owners, one who had a dog about 20-25 pounds in size, and the other had two dogs that were 40-50 pounds each. The men had been walking along a path in the park when the altercation happened, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Officer Suspended by POST Commission

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A Watertown Police officer has been suspended by the POST Commission for accusations that he was charged with a felony. The Watertown Police Department referred questions to City Manager George Proakis, who confirmed that officer Kevin Rooney has been suspended during the POST Commission process. “Regarding this specific situation, Officer Rooney is on an unpaid administrative leave status. But, due to this being a personnel issue, that is all I can share at this time,” Proakis said. Proakis did not go into details about the reason for the suspension, but added the following statement. “It is my expectation that the actions of every one of our law enforcement officers, both on and off duty, consistently reflect positively on the Police Department and the Watertown community as a whole.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Recover Missing Football Signed by Brady, Bledsoe

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Watertown Police DepartmentThe missing football signed by three Patriots, including Tom Brady, was recovered after an undercover investigation. A football autographed by some New England Patriots legends went missing from a Watertown business about a month ago, but the ball was intercepted by police when the thief tried to sell it online. The ball that was signed by Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe and Damon Huard belongs to local plumbing business J.C. Cannistratro. During a recent move, however, the ball went missing. On Wednesday, detectives from two police departments recovered the ball.

Government

City Petitions Legislature to Extend Age Police Officers Can Work Road Detail Shifts

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Charlie BreitroseA road after being milled and prepared for overlay of new asphalt.

The City of Watertown seeks to expand the age that police officers can work a detail at road construction projects up to the age of 70. Currently, the State caps the age of detail officers at 65, said City Manager George Proakis, but some communities have expanded that age to 70. With many road projects going on through the year, Watertown has trouble filling them with its own officers. With other communities allow older officers this creates some inconsistencies, Proakis said. “Because we are not able to fill all our details we often find ourselves requesting officers from other communities to come fill details in Watertown,” Proakis said.