Tito slams mayor, cops’ handling of video probe
Says no one should be back on duty until investigation over
Mayoral candidate and City Councilor Tito Jackson is slamming Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s handling of a racially loaded video featuring a Boston police officer — after one officer was cleared for duty and a second placed on leave — saying neither should be on the job until the investigation is complete.
“The lack of real disciplinary action detracts from the great work the Boston Police Department does every day,” said Jackson yesterday.
But Walsh and a Boston Police Department spokesman argued they’ve made strong advances in the investigation, noting that the officer whose image appeared in the controversial clip was determined not to have been involved, while they have put another officer on leave who they believe is behind it.
“A second officer was placed on administrative leave on June 15 after it was learned that he was responsible for the video. The internal investigation remains active,” said Boston police Lt. Detective Michael McCarthy.
The video, first reported by the Herald, is filmed as a fake movie trailer. It shows photos and short recordings of a Boston police officer and a dog and begins, “In the fight between good and evil comes an unlikely pair.” It closes with a picture of a black woman and the phrase, “This summer, black people have met their match.”
McCarthy said the officer, who was put on leave on June 9, was fully investigated and cleared in the matter. He returned to patrol in Roxbury last week.
“We learned early in the investigation that the officer depicted in the video was not involved in the making or dissemination of the video. He was returned to full duty,” said McCarthy.
But Jackson said he believes that officer should remain on leave until the entire investigation is over.
“As mayor, I would not allow these individuals back on street without an indepth investigation,” Jackson said, arguing that the lack of public action sends a bad message to people of color.
“This video, which included a Boston police officer and included the statement ‘Black people have met their match’ is reprehensible and racist. Instead of just calling a racist act ‘foolish’ and calling for more racial dialogue, a real leader would ensure that those involved face consequences,” he said.
Walsh called the video “foolish” shortly after the Boston Herald first wrote about the controversial recording, but has also strongly denounced the depiction, which is in the style of a movie trailer and portrays the officer back on duty as “inept.”