Around Town

Watertown’s Parking Ban Suspended Over Holidays

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

Effective December 23, 2022 enforcement of the All Night Parking Ban will be temporarily suspended – barring any snowfall that would require plowing or sanding. Should there be a snow event please refer to the City website for available off-street parking locations. The City of Watertown is monitoring weather forecasts that include a potential for winter precipitation and/or icing on Saturday morning December 24, 2022, and therefore a parking ban may be implemented for a period of time if it becomes necessary for snow/ice removal operations. Please monitor the City’s website, social media, WCA-TV and other sources for any potential announcements that would temporarily put a parking ban back in place. Police Chief Thomas Rocca encourages all homeowners to continue using available off-street parking during the overnight hours.

Around Town

Watertown Police Take Children to Shop With a Cop at Target

By |

Charlie BreitroseMembers of the Watertown Police Department took a group of kids from the Watertown Boys & Girls Club shopping at Target. One afternoon last week, the aisles of Target were filled with children looking for toys, clothes and other gifts. The kids were accompanied on their holiday shopping trip by members of the Watertown Police Department as part of the annual Shop with Cop program. The children, who came from the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, anxiously awaited the trip, said Peter Gardula, Director of Mission Advancement at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. “They’ve been looking forward to doing this the last three or four days,” Gardula said.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Catch Pair of Men with “Ghost Gun”

By |

Watertown Police DepartmentThe “ghost gun” recovered by Watertown Police during a traffic stop. The Watertown Police confiscated a “ghost gun” along with a high-capacity magazine and other items during and arrest made after making a traffic stop on Sunday, Nov. 13. Denis Amaral De Abreau, 20, of Boston, was pulled over after officers stopped his vehicle for speeding at 1:35 a.m. on Nov. 13.

Police/Fire

City Planning to Appeal Decision in Sexual Discrimination Case Involving the Police Department

By |

Charlie BreitroseWatertown Police Station

The City of Watertown will be appealing the verdict and award of a Middlesex Superior Court jury that ruled in favor of a former Watertown Police detective who sued for sexual discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. On Thursday, the jury ruled in favor of Kathleen Donohue on both matters, and awarded her $4.3 million in back pay, future earnings, and damages, including $1 million in punitive damages. The City disagreed with the jury’s decision, said Doug Louison of Louison, Costello, Condon and Pfaff, one of Watertown’s attorneys in the case. “I think we’re looking at the case very closely again right now,” Louison said. “We strongly disagree with the jury’s conclusion.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Program Attempting to Stop Catalytic Converter Thefts

By |

Watertown has seen a rash of catalytic converter thefts over recent months, and the Police Department has teamed with a local auto dealer to try to prevent thefts. The devices are part of a car’s exhaust system and contain valuable metals, so they can be costly to replace. They can also be removed from a vehicle in a matter of minutes, said Rodney Dukes, service director at Toyota of Watertown. One of the most common targets for catalytic converter thieves is the Toyota Prius. Customers can get a plate installed over the catalytic converter to slow thieves, Dukes said.

Homepage Featured

Police Log: Car Goes Through Yard & Damages 2 Vehicles, Shoplifters Stopped After Hitting 2 Stores

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

None

Incidents 

Oct 17, 2:15 p.m.: A vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at the light on Galen Street at Watertown Street heading toward Newton. The suspect went around the vehicle that had been struck and headed toward Newton. It was an older-model Honda Pilot. The bumper of the vehicle that was hit sustained damage that will cost about $800 to repair.

Homepage Featured

Several Watertown Students Injured in School Bus Accident

By |

A school bus carrying Watertown Public School students collided with a vehicle on Belmont Street on Oct. 19, 2022. Several students suffered minor injuries. Multiple students went to hospital after suffering injuries when a school bus carrying Watertown elementary school student got into an accident on Belmont Street on Wednesday morning. The bus had been carrying 44 students to the Lowell West campus at the former St.