Watertown at a glance


Population by race and Hispanic origin


Cities in this database with the most similarly-sized populations

Full-time law enforcement staff, Watertown Police Department

  • 68 Officers
  • 3 Civilian staff

Full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents

  • 1.9 National average, cities with 10,000 to 24,999 population
  • 2.2 National average

Federal grant funding for Watertown


USA spending grants for Watertown have not yet been reviewed, please check back soon. Alternatively, why not search for other states, cities, or counties in the database.

Military equipment transfers


We were unable to locate any military equipment transfers for this location using the LESO Property Transferred to Participating Agencies database published by the Defense Logistics Agency. It is possible that this location has acquired military equipment for policing via other sources or programs.

Local police misconduct data, consent decrees, and settlements

Data last updated April 22, 2026


Settlements

We identified 1 publicly reported settlement that resulted in policy changes.

Settlements
Year Description Outcome
2024

In October 2024, the Watertown Police Department and Jefferson County Correctional Facility in New York agreed to settlements mandating policy reforms to protect transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex (TGNCNBI) individuals from discrimination by law enforcement and while in custody.

On September 28, 2017, Watertown Police Department officers arrested DeAnna LeTray, a transgender woman, during a domestic call. According to the lawsuit, an officer made disparaging remarks about LeTray’s gender identity and appearance. At the police station, officers allegedly removed LeTray’s hair and later subjected her to a strip search and an invasive cavity search at the jail. The suit also challenged the jail’s blanket strip-search policy as unconstitutional. LeTray reported suffering from anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and panic attacks as a result. As part of the settlement, the Watertown Police Department committed to adopting clear guidelines governing the treatment of TGNCNBI individuals, including respectfully using correct names, titles, and pronouns; ensuring that transportation, search, and booking procedures respect gender identity; and requiring disciplinary action for officers with sustained complaints of gender-based discrimination. The Jefferson County Correctional Facility agreed to house and search TGNCNBI individuals consistent with their gender identity, ensure respectful name and pronoun use by jail staff, and ensure access to nondiscriminatory medical and mental health care, including access to gender-affirming items and treatment for gender dysphoria. 

Policy changes