Watertown mayor, police chief say recent violent incidents are unrelated
Watertown Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce and Police Chief Cristin Lyon issued a joint public statement saying recent violent incidents in the city are isolated and unrelated, and asked residents to help by reporting crimes and suspicious activity.
By the ClickNNY North Country Desk
Watertown Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce and Police Chief Cristin Lyon have released a joint statement addressing recent violent incidents in the city. The two officials said the incidents are not connected to one another and are isolated, and that there is no broader threat to the general public. They acknowledged that the incidents have worried residents and said those concerns are being taken seriously.
The statement said Watertown police are on duty around the clock responding to calls, investigating crimes and making arrests when appropriate, and are working with other city departments and with county and state law enforcement agencies. Pierce and Lyon said cities across New York and the country are dealing with similar public safety problems, and pointed to factors including domestic issues, substance abuse and mental illness. They also said the city is limited by available resources and by state law.
The officials asked residents to call 911 when they witness a crime or an immediate threat and not to assume someone else has already called. Suspicious activity can be reported to the Police Department's non-emergency line at 315-786-2601. The statement also encouraged residents to take part in Watertown's Neighborhood Watch program, lock vehicles and homes, keep valuables out of sight in parked vehicles, talk with young people about safety, and seek out community resources for substance use, mental health or housing needs.
This story was written from a community submission and reviewed by a ClickNNY editor before publication.
More from ClickNNY
Guides and features from across the North Country.
ClickNNY Guide · Fort Drum
Your first North Country winter: a survival guide for Fort Drum soldiers from the South
Never driven on snow, owned a snow blower or felt a February morning at Fort Drum? Here's what to wear, what to keep in your car and how to get through your first lake-effect winter.
ClickNNY Guide · Winter
Are we ready for another North Country winter?
From heating bills and snow tires to lake-effect storms and the first big snowfall, Northern New York is getting ready for another winter. But how prepared are we really?
ClickNNY Guide
Driving on wet leaves in the North Country: what to know this fall
Wet leaves, farm equipment, school buses, low sunlight, frost and deer can create seasonal driving hazards in Northern New York, according to safety guidance from AAA Northeast, AARP, New York agencies and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.