Find Out How Much the Manhunt and Capture of the Bombing Suspects Cost Watertown

Putting a price tag on the safety of Watertown residents and the elimination and capture of accused terrorists is not easy, but Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau seeks assistance for the work his department put in during the events of April 19.

The overtime and equipment costs will be at least $250,000, Deveau said in an interview with the Boston Globe, but added that the number is preliminary and could rise more. 

"We're working with FEMA and MEMA to try and get those costs covered," Deveau said.

The costs will include the operations of April 19. In the early hours of that day the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects came to Watertown and battled police and Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in the shootout and also by his brother running him over in a car. By early evening the second suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was found in a boat on Franklin Street and was captured.

Several Watertown Police officers involved in the shootout at Laurel Street and Dexter Avenue were off for about a month after the incident. Other officers had to cover their shifts.

Deveau told the Globe he hopes that the incident will show the need for an increase in the Police Department's budget and additional officers. That does not appear to be in the cards this year.

Next year's budget presented by Town Manager Michael Driscoll includes $7.7 million for the Police Department - a $58,434 increase.

"The Police and Fire departments are funded to maintain the Fiscal Year 2013 staffing levels," Driscoll said.

Watertown has 65 uniformed officers - including 47 on patrol - nine dispatchers and four civilian employees, Driscoll said. 

Deveau has been asking for more officers for the past few years. In 2011 he appealed to the Town Council for more funds, and noted that the department lost four patrol officers in 2009 and four more in 2010 during budget cuts.