HomeMy Public PortalAbout5/24/2022 Resolution: Proclamation Honoring Police Chief Michael Lawn on His RetirementELECTED OFFICIALS:
Watertown City Council
Administration Building
149 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Plione: 617-972-6470
PROCLAMATION HONORING
Mark S. Sideris, POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL LAWN ON HIS RETIREMENT
Council President
Vincent C. Piccirilli, Cr., WHEREAS: Police Chief Michael Lawn has served the City of Watertown for 32 years beginning
Vice President & as a Police Officer on October 30, 1989 and continuing a family tradition; was appointed sergeant
District C Councilor in March, 2000; and then appointed lieutenant in May 2002 later serving as Commander of the
Detective Division and Commander of the Day -Shift Patrol Division, and finally as Police Chief on
Cohn M. Airasian January 28, 2016; and
Councilor At Large
Caroline Bays WHERAS: Chief Lawn served as one of the City's first Community Police Officers from 1996 -1999
Councilor At Large and the Police Department spokesperson responsible for all media relations since 2001; obtained a
Master's Degree in Criminal Justice; organized the Police Athletic League; assisted in the
CohnG. Gannon, development of the Cops and Kids afterschool program at the Middle School; and served as an
Councilor At Large instructor in the Citizens Police Academy; and
Anthony Palomba,
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn, has faithfully executed his responsibilities of providing for the safety of the
Councilor At Large
public; providing leadership to the Department; and managing Department personnel, resources,
Nicole Gardner,
and policies and procedures; and
District A Councilor
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn has engaged the Police in community services by holding "Coffee with the
Lisa C. Feltner,
Chief' with senior citizens; establishing a Cops & Rec program with the Recreation Department; and
District B Councilor
reestablishing the Citizen's Police Academy to show the community what policing services are; and
Emily Izzo,
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn has improved policing services by obtaining funding for the Restorative
District D Councilor
Justice Program; receiving funding to redo the entire radio infrastructure with Fire Chief Quinn, for
the city's public safety; working to fund a second full-time clinician to enhance the jail diversion program; re-establishing
the K-9 program; being awarded $150,000 of state funding for the Department's Drug Interdiction and Community
Policing Programs; and creating an ATV "Mule Patrol" to deliver basic necessities to the homeless; and
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn has labored to better the working conditions for his fellow police officers: he began the Annual
Police Department Road Race to benefit the Police Relief Committee; improved the morale of the Department; guided
the Department through the recent pandemic; transitioned the Department from 40.calibre handgun to a 9 mm handgun
to improve officer effectiveness and safety; and established with other departments the CISM (Critical Incident Stress
Management) Task Force to improve the health and welfare of his officers; and
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn achieved the honor of having Watertown's Police Department accredited twice by the
Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, which establishes high professional standards and requires the
Department's provision of best practices to the community, an achievement that only 27% or 95 out of 351
Commonwealth communities have achieved.
WHEREAS: Chief Lawn wishes the community to know how fortunate it is to have a such a dedicated police force and
to acknowledge their dedication and support these officers.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the City Council of Watertown extends its congratulations to
MICHAEL LAWN ON HIS RETIREMENT AS THE WATERTOWN POLICE CHIEF
IN WITNESS HEREOF,
I have hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the City of Watertown to be
Affixed on this 24th day of May 2022
Mark S. Sideris, Council President