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Boston-area police chief urges more communication from local terrorism task forces

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Boston Police Department Commissioner, and Fellow at Harvard University, Edward Davis, left, and Watertown, Mass. Police Chief Edward Deveau, center, applaud as Watertown Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese, and fellow police officers from Watertown as they stand to be acknowledged on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2014, during the House Homeland Security Committee hearing about the Boston Marathon Bombings leading up to the year anniversary of the attack. At right is Harvard University Professor Herman “Dutch” Leonard. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (The Associated Press)

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, left, holds a document about the Boston Marathon Bombing by Harvard Professor Herman “Dutch” Leonard, right, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2014, prior to the start of the committee's hearing on the bombings leading up to the year anniversary of the attack. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (The Associated Press)

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, center left, greets Watertown, Mass. Police Sgt. Jeffrey Pugliese on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 9, 2014, before the start of the committee's hearing about the Boston Marathon Bombings leading up to the year anniversary of the attack. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (The Associated Press)

Almost a year ago, police in the Boston suburb of Watertown were at the center of the hunt for the Boston Marathon bombers.

There was a late-night shootout with the suspects — one was killed, the other was later found wounded and now faces trial.

Watertown Police Chief Edward Devau testified Wednesday at a House hearing on the aftermath of last April's bombings.

One topic that came up was the Boston-area Justice Department task force on terrorism organized by the FBI — one of many such task forces around the country.

Devau said his department is too small for a permanent seat on the Boston-area task force. But he said local officials "need to have access to that table" immediately after events such as the Boston Marathon bombings.