Entertainment

Which Scenes Shot in Watertown Made it Into ‘Patriots Day, What Stood in For the Town

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Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons, center, speaks with Connie Pugliese during a break from filming in her home. The actor is portraying her husband Jeff, a Watertown Police sergeant in the film “Patriots Day.” Just like the real-life events of the Boston Marathon Bombing, Watertown features prominently in the movie “Patriots Day,” well sometimes it is the town, and others other locations played the part. Filmmakers spent several days in Watertown last spring shooting scenes at the former Watertown Police Station, the Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street, Main Street Mobile, the area near Greg’s Restaurant and the home of Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese.

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.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Local Reporter Tells Story of Boston Cop Who Died from Injures from the Watertown Shootout

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The puzzling death of a Boston Police officer who was injured during the Watertown Shootout and died suddenly a year later was chronicled by Watertown-based reporter Adam Sennott. Boston Police Officer Dennis O. Simmonds was described as a model police officer, and was one of the officers who responded to the shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombers in Watertown. Though not publicized Simmonds was injured in the shootout. He was honored by the Boston Police and was presented an award from the National Association of Police Organizations by President Obama. A year later he died of what was called a brain aneurism, but an autopsy was not performed.

Entertainment

‘Patriots Day’ to Film in Watertown, Studio Donating to Town to Hire a Cop

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The film about the Boston Marathon Bombings, and the events that followed in Watertown, will film a portion of the film at the old Police Station and a donation from the filmmakers will allow the town to hire an additional police officer. 

Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll revealed the news during his presentation of the Fiscal 2017 budget to the Town Council, Tuesday night. “The submitted Fiscal Year 2017 budget includes funding of one additional police officer above Fiscal Year 2016 level as a result of CBS Films providing $60,000 to the Town, primarily related to the filming of scenes of the ‘Patriots Day’ movie at the former Police Station,” Driscoll said. The police officer will bring the total uniformed officers in town up to 67, Driscoll said, including 49 patrol officers. The department also has nine dispatchers, four civilian employees and crossing guards at spots around town. In future years, the additional officer town officials will have to find room in the town’s operating budget to pay for the officer added through CBS Films’ donation, Driscoll said.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Scenes in ‘Patriots Day’ to be Shot in MetroWest Suburb

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Filmmakers will recreate the Watertown Shootout and the scene around the boat where Dzhohkar Tsarnaev was captured will be shot in Framingham. The shooting of “Patriots Day” has hit top gear, and WBZ-TV Channel 4 reports that the town in the MetroWest will be the stand-in for Watertown. Originally, filmmakers wanted to used the same streets where Watertown Police battled the Boston Marathon Bombers as the scene for their film, but the idea had some strong opposition in town and Town officials decided to pass on the opportunity. David Henneberry, the owner of the boat, told the Boston Herald he had no interest in participating in the film. Forced to look for a new spot, they chose Framingham.

Government

LETTER: East End Councilor Reacts to Decision on Film on Watertown Shootout

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First and foremost, no resident of Watertown should ever be made to feel that an issue or event is allowed to “fly under the radar;” a statement that has been echoed on numerous occasions these past couple of weeks specific to this matter. In my opinion, four residents of one street does not constitute neighborhood involvement without broader notification. Especially, when we speak of an event of a very sensitive nature that impacted the entire East End of Watertown, community-at-large and surrounding cities and towns. For the record, a designee of Town Manager Michael Driscoll, Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning was present at the Feb. 12, 2016 meeting.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Changes of Plans for Filming at Scene of Watertown Shootout

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced that plans recreate the Watertown Shootout on the same streets that the incident occurred have been scrapped. Driscoll sent out the announcement Friday afternoon:
“Upon further reflection, filming the recreation of the Watertown Shootout when police encountered the Boston Marathon Bombers at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street is not in the best interest of Watertown. Therefore, CBS Films will proceed with identifying another location to film the Shootout outside of the Town of Watertown.” The announcement came after a week of emotional responses by many residents about re-enacting the firefight between Watertown Police and the Tsarnaev brothers on April 19, 2013. CBS Films had met with residents of Laurel Street to discuss plans, but the meeting held on Feb.

Around Town

Academy Award Winner to Play Watertown Police Officer in ‘Patriots Day’

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Watertown Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese, one of the heroes of the Watertown Shootout, will be played by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons in the upcoming film “Patriots Day.” The film, being made by CBS Films and Lionsgate, will chronicle the events around the Boston Marathon Bombings, including the shootout in Watertown in which Watertown Police faced the Tsarnaev brothers. Pugliese had just gotten off duty on the night of the shootout, but raced to the scene in his family’s minivan and flanked the Tsarnaevs. He helped capture Tamerlan, who later died at hospital.