Highlights of Oct 19 meeting: WPD Chief Lawn reported they will be taking part in a pilot with Multitude Insights, a startup through Harvard Business School and the MIT Sloan School of Management, to help determine and solve some of Watertown’s crime reporting and race data collection and analysis needs. They continue de-escalation training, as well as Train the Trainers programs. At the recent state POST commission meeting for state police reform, Chief Lawn learned that they are still in startup mode, with no office, no website, and no staff yet, as the commission is looking to hire an IT professional as well as General Counsel. WPD will soon release a series of “Behind the Badge” videos online to help the community get to know the men and women of our police force and some of the services being offered.

Upcoming Committee meeting is October 19 at 6PM in person. See the Town website for details.

July 19, 2021 Committee Report online at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33371/2021-07-19-Public-Safety-Report---Police-Services

April 22, 2021 Minutes and related documents https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32112/2021-04-22-Public-Safety---Police-Services

We kicked off Public Safety Committee meetings to discuss current operations and services of WPD with the community on March 12, 2021. Minutes of March 12 and related documents https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32092/2021-03-12-Public-Safety---Police-Services

Public Safety Services (please consult Town and Dept websites for most up to date information): Watertown Police Dept, WPD Use of Force Policy -note: Every officer in the WPD is required to review, train, and demonstrate proficiency in understanding this policy on an annual basis. Our Use of Force Policy is consistent with Massachusetts Police Training Council Standards. It has also been reviewed and approved multiple times by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Citizen Police Academy workshops.

Watertown Fire Dept;

Traffic Commission. Traffic Commission members include WPD Chief Mike Lawn, chair; WPD Sgt. David Sampson, clerk; WFD Chief Bob Quinn; DPW Superintendent Greg St. Louis; Town Engineer Matt Shuman; Steve Magoon, Dir. of Community Development & Planning and Asst. Town Manager; residents Mr. John S. Airasian (term to May 15, 2020) and Ms. Kelly J. Gallagher, Esq. (term to May 15, 2021).

Hazard Mitigation Plan, updated May 2019, will help advance Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness planning and become part of a new Climate Action Plan.

Watertown Street/Rt. 16-Galen Street MassDOT Road Safety Audit, reported 2017.

2019 Community Health Needs Assessment Report (doesn’t include Environmental Health) -new business to address Report will be taken up with the Human Services Committee.

2017 Info re: testing for lead and copper at Watertown Public Schools.

Community Policing and Watertown Police Dept Immigration Legal Issues policy 5/31/2017. January 2018 video of statement from Chief Michael Lawn, from Watertown Cable Access TV.

Report to Town Council 7/11/17, with potential improvements identified in June 2017, with Observations by Commission on Disabilities site visits.

Complete Streets Prioritization 2018; policy adopted May 2017.

Emergency Management Team information on Town website.

Materials developed for the Town Council Public Safety Committee on Arsenal Street observations, shared in committee on 4/10/2017, below. See link to summary report on 5/9/17 to the full Town Council with six main questions, along with both the 3/22 and 4/10 meeting minutes (also posted in Agenda on Watertown's website).