See Who Made a HUGE Donation to the Watertown Police Foundation

In just four weeks, the Watertown Police Foundation has raised around $100,000 through the sales of the "Watertown Strong" T-shirts and a very generous donation from a Watertown native.

The group started days after Watertown was thrown into turmoil by the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, but when the smoke cleared, a group of local residents and businesses decided to create the group to aid the people who helped keep the town safe.

T-shirt sales have been successful, bringing in $20 a piece, but the Foundation got a big boost recently. Watertown Police Chief Edward Deveau got a call about a guy who wanted to stop by the police station and say hi.

"He came in and said my mother is 96 years old, she lives up in Maine, she goes to Florida in the wintertime, but she still considers Watertown home. "She said, Frank I want you and your two brothers to make a donation to my police department. His name is Frank McCourt and he gave us a check for $25,000."

McCourt grew up in town and made money in real estate. He made an unsuccessful bid to buy the Red Sox, and then bought the Los Angeles Dodgers, of which he is still a partial owner.

The money will go to a variety of places. The Watertown Police will be able to use it to boost its training budget, Deveau said. 

"The last 8 to 10 years the money for training in police officers Massachusetts has gone down terribly and officers are required to have 32 to 40 hours of training - first aid, criminal refreshers - so to speak - and lately we haven't had the state aid to provide any specialized training," Deveau said. "If we provide any training at all it comes at our expense. ... I think the Foundation can give us a shot in the arm."

Jay Darby, one of the founders of the Watertown Police Foundation, had approached Chief Deveau about starting a group to help the police about three years ago, but Deveau said the timing did not seem right. 

Darby said he'd like to bring back programs to connect the police with the people of Watertown, such as the Police Athletic League and the Citizens Police Academy. Connections with the people, especially youngsters, is important for the police, Darby said.

"Lt. Michael Lawn told me he coached in the Police Athletic League and when he sees one of his former kids doing something wrong on the street he can just yell at them, not arrest them," Darby said. "At age 15, the difference between knowing the police and if they don't know them, at that age, is a big thing."

Deveau did not discount the importance of the Watertown Strong T-shirts, both financially and emotionally.

"You guys have been great. I am so proud to walk around Watertown and see so many people wearing those T-shirts. To march in the parade, to see the crowd that turned out and the response that the officers got, you know, that is so uplifting to us," Deveau said. 

He said he still thinks back to the evening after the second Boston Marathon Bombing suspect was caught and he was leaving he scene to head home.

"We were so tired after most of us had worked 24 hours after we had finished up at the command post and we were trying to get back to our families and let them know we are OK... and then," Deveau said. "So many officers were exhausted, but they still talk about it today. Can you believe driving down Mt. Auburn Street, did you see all those people.

"The support you have given us, I don't think you really understand how much it has helped us feel good about ourselves."