Trio of Watertown Cops Earn Congressional Badge of Bravery

Three members of the Watertown police force were presented last week the Congressional Badge of Bravery for their actions during the 2013 citywide lockdown and shootout between law enforcement and the Boston Marathon Bombers, according to Wicked Local Watertown.

Sgts. John MacLellan, Jeffery Pugliese and Ofc. Joseph Reynolds were awarded their medals at a ceremony Friday, July 31, at the police station, the report stated. Goverment officials from around the state were on hand, too, including Reps. Joe Kennedy and Katherine Clark, and Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, the report added.

»Via Wicked Local Watertown

This trio of officers—along with the rest of the Watertown force—also received the Top Cop and the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor awards for what they did April 19, 2013, which left Tamerlan Tsarnaev dead and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev injured and captured. Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Ofc. Richard Donohue also was shot and injured.

“The Watertown police don’t get enough credit. They are humble about it,” Jamie Venezia, a resident who lives 100 yards from the scene of the shootout, told Patch a month after the incident. “While Boston (police) were out front at press conferences, and they did a good job. Watertown was the first on the scene. Watertown killed the first guy and were first on the scene with the (capture) of the second guy.”

Patch Coverage Related to the Boston Marathon Bombing

• The Day That Watertown Took on The Boston Marathon Bombers
• He’s In Custody: A Timeline of Events Leading to Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect’s Arrest
• Watch: Boston Marathon Victim Walks Again
• Watertown First-Responders Honored with Medal of Valor for Actions Following Boston Marathon Bombing
• Death Penalty Complicates Boston Bomber Trial

During the ceremony, Kennedy singled out MacLellan for the strides he’s made to stay connected to the community with efforts such as teaching women self-defense by starting a fitness center at Watertown High School, the report stated. MacLellan was one of the first members of law enforcement to spot the the Tsarnaevs’ car, not knowing the suspects were inside.

“As far as I can tell, as far as I’ve been told, there’s not a person in this town that doesn’t know you and your motorcycle by name,” Kennedy said at the ceremony, according to the report.