Watertown Police Department

The Watertown Police Department is the municipal police force for the City of Watertown, responsible for public safety and day-to-day policing across the community. Beyond patrol work, the department handles firearms licensing for residents, processing License to Carry applications that include a fingerprint-based background check and a check with the Department of Mental Health. Residents can find application procedures, forms and answers to common questions through the department’s pages on the city website.

Firearms license holders and applicants use the state’s MIRCS online portal to apply for or renew licenses, check application status, view their license PIN and report a name or address change. The department also points residents to WatertownALERT, the city’s emergency notification system, which sends urgent messages about severe weather, road closures and evacuations by phone, text, email or devices for the hearing impaired. The department keeps residents updated through its Instagram account.

What to Know

• Massachusetts law requires firearms license holders to report a change of address within 30 days.
• Non-residents can also apply for firearms licenses through the state portal.
• Processing times for license applications vary by licensing authority.
• Residents can create a city website account to manage notification subscriptions.