Wellesley Police Ran, Responded to Marathon Bombing

The Boston Marathon route in Wellesley was re-opening to road traffic at about 2:30 p.m., and the bombing in Boston was about 20 minutes later. 

A new Wellesley Police news update provides a behind-the-scenes look at Marathon preparation, and shares some of the WPD response to the bombing in Copley Square. 

The day began normally, with a joint briefing between Wellesley officers and the Army National Guard. The video reports that the race itself was more or less incident free as it passed through Wellesley--home of the Scream Tunnel.

Chief Terrence Cunningham and a task force of WPD officers drove directly to Boston to assist with efforts there, as soon as they heard about the explosions. Those officers were dispatched to guard the John Hancock and Prudential Center buildings, while Deputy Chief Jack Pilecki oversaw security sweeps here in town.

Two Wellesley officers and a dispatcher were among the runners this year. Officers Evan Rosenberg (a three-year marathon veteran) and Mike Lemenager, along with Dispatcher Mark D'Innocenzo. The three were unharmed, although they were initially unaccounted for, and D'Innocenzo was fairly close to the blast. 

See the video on the Wellesley Police Department website.

The video goes on to note that WPD officers were on hand during the manhunt in Watertown, and stepped in to help the Newton Police Department overnight. 

Meanwhile, in--it was merely a precaution.