Editorial, Opinion

EDIT: Hands up for Boston Police?

Remember that time when David Ortiz hit a grand slam and tied the game on Sunday? Not only did that moment lead to the eventual Red Sox victory, it produced a fantastic photo of a Boston Police Department officer celebrating. With his arms in the air, Officer Steve Horgan and his aura of triumph and euphoria became an internet sensation. The image possesses a humorous symmetry, the legs up in the air seem to mimic the cop’s arms, but it was not aesthetics that caught the audience’s imagination.

In the photo run by the Boston Globe, Officer Horgan shows us a different side of police officers — the same police officers students met in Boston Common when Dzokhar Tsarnaev was apprehended. News stories involving Boston’s law enforcement organizations tend to revolve around murder, theft or terrorism cases. The BPD is not known for being conscious of its public image.

The image captured the man behind the badge, but it does not, and to an extent should not, have any bearing on the BPD public profile. When officers risk their lives to protect civilians, the value and success lies in statistics. Cause for celebration is when a criminal from Boston’s Most Wanted list is brought into custody, or when repeat offenders terrorising a neighborhood are brought to justice. How many hits on a photo of a jubilant officer does not belong on that list.

Horgan has served as an officer for 27 years. While it makes a cute human interest story that he finally gets to show the world his undying love for the Red Sox, his larger triumph is keeping Bostonians safe. All law enforcement officials have personal stories, lives beyond the organisation they devote their lives to everyday. The images of BPD seizing Tsarnaev would not make anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside, but doing a job for the greater good does not lend itself to a heartwarming photo opportunity.

There is no doubt that the citizens of Boston, just as the population of any city hit by such tragedy in the recent past, would naturally appreciate some lighter news. However, the photo should be seen for what it is, a nice moment amongst the chaos or everyday life. Now, it’s time to move on and respect that the police force does its best work away from the cameras, not on them.

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This is an account occasionally used by the Daily Free Press editors to post archived posts from previous iterations of the site or otherwise for special circumstance publications. See authorship info on the byline at the top of the page.

One Comment

  1. Guys…the shutdown ended yesterday and this is what you edit on? Come on.