Pat's Towing Inc.

02/08/2022

Great job!

Somerville Police Award Life Saving Medal to Police and Housing Officers

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022 Officers Kevin Goulart and Justin Buswell were on routine patrol in the area of the Dilboy Pool located on Alewife Brook Parkway. At 1:47pm they heard a radio transmission from Somerville Housing Officer Billy Rymill, who was on a nearby detail. He was alerting dispatch of a rollover involving a trailer truck in the area of Capen Court.

Officers Goulart and Buswell, who were just minutes away, immediately proceeded to the crash scene. On their arrival, they observed the truck lying on its side in the southbound lane exiting the rotary. The driver's cab had struck a tree and landed near the curb resulting in extensive damage. Without hesitation, Officer Goulart exited his cruiser and ran towards the overturned truck. Officer Buswell positioned his cruiser to block oncoming traffic and decrease the possibility of further injury.

Officer Goulart, using a section of the tree that was split in half due to the impact, climbed up on top of the cabin in order to check on the operator. From this vantage point, he could see that the driver was trapped and bleeding from his head. Officer Goulart called out to his fellow officer to bring the trauma bag assigned to the cruisers. With bag in hand, Officer Goulart retrieved bandages and handed them to the driver instructing him to press the bandages against the wound in hopes of stopping the bleeding. Officer Goulart observing the amount of blood loss, and also hearing observers yelling that the truck was starting to smoke, believed time was of the essence. Officer Goulart then climbed down from the cab and using an emergency window puncher, broke the back window and extricated the operator from the damaged vehicle. The two officers now joined by Officer Rymill, relocated the driver away from the hazardous scene. Officer Buswell now focused on rendering medical aid, while Officer Goulart assisted in managing the chaotic traffic scene.

The decisive actions of the above referenced officers, not only contributed to this life saving event, but also exemplifies the long history of courage and professionalism within the Somerville Police Department. I take great pride in awarding each of these Officers with the Somerville Police Department's Life Saving Award.



Presented on the 25th day of January in the year 2022

Charles Femino, Chief of Police

02/03/2022

We don't plan to call a snow emergency, but we want to remind everyone to be careful on their Friday morning commute. Crews will be out tonight and tomorrow morning pre-treating the roads, but roads and sidewalks may be slippery in the morning so give yourself some extra time and go slow. You can help out your neighbors who rely on our sidewalks to get around by pre-treating them tonight.

01/28/2022

A snow emergency will go into effect at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 28. Beginning at 4 p.m., cars will have four hours (until 8 p.m.) to move to the ODD-numbered side of the street. Any exceptions will be noted by nearby signs. Residents are free to begin moving their cars to the odd side at any time.

Designated City parking lots are also available for snow emergency parking starting at 4 p.m. For a full list of available City-owned parking lots, visit somervillema.gov/snow. Parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies and gates will be locked. To avoid having your vehicle locked in a school lot, ticketed, and towed, vacate all school lots before 8 p.m. on Friday, January 28.

If you do use City lots, please note that all cars must be moved within 2 hours of the end of the emergency. Snow emergencies can be lifted at any time, including during work hours, so if you are unable to move your car out of a City lot at potentially short notice, please consider finding alternative parking.

Please note, potential high snow totals and high hourly rates of snowfall are forecast. So again we ask that you move cars on time, use (and consider sharing) your driveways, and that you bear with us with what may be a very challenging snow removal operation.

Bike lanes and cycle tracks will be plowed as part of our snow removal and specialized tractors will be deployed for this purpose; however, during and immediately after a storm, bike lanes may have ice and snow buildup. So please use caution when riding a bike and consider other modes of transportation if you must travel. Please also bear with us if you observe plow damage to flex posts used for bike and pedestrian infrastructure. A certain amount of flex post loss is expected during snow removal. Posts will be replaced in the spring.

Closed or Canceled Saturday:

➡️City COVID-19 testing site
➡️School activities
➡️All Somerville Public Library branches
➡️Recreation Department activities
➡️Kennedy pool
➡️Ice rinks
➡️ Blue Bikes will be closed Saturday and Sunday

For more information, please visit somervillema.gov/snow or contact 311.

01/28/2022

Snow emergency declared for Fri., Jan. 28, 4pm
Move cars by 8pm Fri. to the odd side of the road unless otherwise posted. Visit ...

12/07/2021

Resident of Somerville Awareness: Please refrain from leaving your vehicles running and unattended. Nearly half of the MV thefts this November were vehicles left running and unoccupied. Please stay vigilant and safe.

08/05/2021

Great job!

Combat Cross Awarded to Christopher Collette and Steven Johnson

On Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at approximately 7:42PM, Somerville E911 received a call stating that a person had been shot and the shooter was still on scene. Officers Christopher Collette and Steven Johnson responded to the scene. Officer Christopher Collette, being first on the scene, observed an individual standing outside the home where the shooting had occurred, holding a semi-automatic firearm. Officer Steven Johnson arrived on location and both Officers proceeded to engage the suspect.

Officer Collette and Johnson drew their fi****ms and approached the suspect, ordering him to drop the firearm and to lay on the ground. The suspect bent slightly, dropping the firearm and laid on the ground. Officer Johnson maintained a tactical cover as Officer Collette secured the firearm and placed handcuffs on the suspect.

While Officer Steven Johnson maintained control of the suspect, Officer Christopher Collette rushed into the house where he located a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officer Collette attempted to perform lifesaving medical aid but was unable to revive the victim.

Based on the Officer’s swift response to the scene, observation of the armed suspect, and their ability to take tactical advantage of the situation, the suspect was placed into custody without incident. Officer Cristopher Collette and Officer Steven Johnson demonstrated tremendous control and de-escalation techniques in a volatile situation with an armed suspect. These Officers exemplify the long history of professionalism within the Somerville Police Department. I take great pride in awarding both Officer Christopher Collette and Officer Steven Johnson the Somerville Police Department’s Combat Cross.

Chief Charles Femino
Chief of Police

# # #

Photo from the Left: Officer Steven Johnson, Deputy Chief Christopher Ward, Officer Christopher Collette

06/22/2021

Great job by SPD and quick thinking!

An overnight fire leaves nine people without homes. Fire crews were called to Bond Street in Somerville and found heavy smoke and fire when they arrived.

06/22/2021

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Cities of Medford and Somerville announce the implementation of a municipal dedicated bus lane pilot between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays on Mystic Avenue (Route 38). Painting and signage along the entire stretch – from Main Street in Medford to Wheatland Street in Somerville – has been completed and the dedicated bus lane will officially become operational on Monday morning, June 21, 2021. Construction of the project is pictured below.

In summer 2020, the Cities of Medford and Somerville were awarded a grant from the Baker-Polito Administration’s Shared Streets and Spaces Program to implement a “quick-build” morning peak hour inbound dedicated bus lane, as a trial, on Mystic Avenue.

--Bus Lane Hours--

The bus lane will be open for buses only on weekdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

--What is a Dedicated Bus Lane?--

A dedicated bus lane is available to MBTA buses only, (and right turning vehicles). The Mystic Avenue lane is on the southbound (inbound) side only and is open only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m on weekdays. Outside of these hours, the lane will be available for all traffic or for parking (in areas that already have parking in Medford).

Dedicated bus lanes are effective in increasing the efficiency and reliability of public transportation, decreasing delays, and improving access to regional jobs and other essential services.

For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to:

- Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
- Visit www.mass511.com, a website that provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
- Follow MassDOT on Twitter to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
- Download MassDOT’s GoTime mobile app and view real-time traffic conditions before setting out on the road.

05/20/2021

There’s no good excuse for not buckling up. In 2016, 10,428 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes weren’t wearing a seat belt - an increase from 2015...

05/19/2021

Somerville will join with the State in lifting remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, May 29. Please note, as of May 29, State guidelines will still require face coverings to be worn on public transit, in rideshares and taxis, in healthcare facilities, and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings. Until May 29, face coverings remain mandatory in indoor public spaces and also outdoors when 6-foot social distancing is not possible. For more information on the State’s reopening plan and guidelines, visit mass.gov/reopening.

05/04/2021

Additional Reopening Steps Go into Effect June 1

Beginning on Tuesday, June 1, additional reopening steps that allow for expanded athletic activities and indoors performances will go into effect in Somerville. Somerville is joining with Boston in rolling out these reopening steps on a delay from the State schedule. All of the newly allowed activities will be subject to regular City permitting and safety rules and sector-specific COVID-19 guidelines.

What changes in Somerville on June 1:

- Singing and woodwind/brass instrument performances will be allowed indoors. Performers must be at least ten feet apart from each other and 25 feet away from the audience.

- Road races and large athletic events will be allowed.

- Youth and amateur adult tournaments for moderate- and high-risk sports, including baseball, softball, track and field, football, wrestling, and basketball, will be allowed.

The City of Somerville continues to monitor COVID case trends, vaccination rates, and other related data on a daily basis. As more people are vaccinated there is hope for further reopening in the near future. All persons age 16 or older are currently eligible for vaccination. For information on how to schedule an appointment, visit www.somervillema.gov/vaccine or call the statewide helpline at 2-1-1.

04/29/2021

Vehicle Booting and Towing Resumes May 3 in Somerville

The City of Somerville will resume booting and towing vehicles with five or more overdue, unpaid parking tickets starting Monday, May 3. Booting and towing operations were suspended last year at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

If a vehicle is booted, all unpaid parking tickets must be paid in full within 48 hours to have it released, otherwise the vehicle will be towed. While the Parking Department office remains closed to the public, payments can be made online at somervillema.gov/parking, over the phone (call 1-844-807-9069), or by placing a certified bank check made out to “City of Somerville” in the secure dropbox outside the Parking office at 133 Holland Street.

For more information, please visit somervillema.gov/parking.