Screen captures by Joan Marshall.
UPDATE: Union president says it was just a joke, apologizes.
Today was the Haines Square Fall Festival in Medford and some members of the Medford Police Patrolmen's Association joined the festivities by "arresting" somebody in a Hillary outfit and palling around with a Trump pretender.
The union thought the photos were so funny they posted them to their Facebook page - until some gloomy Gusses started complaining about fairness and impartiality on the part of an armed constabulary, and so the union took down the photos.
Of course, this is the Internet and nothing goes away, including the photo on the left featuring union President Harold MacGilveray (the one on the right), which I know is him thanks to firing-squad lover Al Baldasaro.
@universalhub Here's a screenshot since they locked their FB account down. pic.twitter.com/dkYXnijbbi
— Mike Roberts (@ecopoesis) October 30, 2016
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Comments
quick
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 9:42pm
somebody accuse me of being a trump supporter because i think its dumb people got upset over this
That's fine if you like Trump
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 9:57pm
Go ahead and share that with your ballot.
The problem is that people in uniform, who represent the city and who will be stationed at the polling places and escorting the ballot boxes, have made their opinions clear.
That, and the blatant ethics violations when a public employee engages in partisan politicking while in uniform. That's an absolute no. Had they donned cammo and did this off the clock, it would be tacky, but acceptable.
i'm not a trump supporter tho
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:03pm
and if you think that the image of trump there portrays him in a positive light idk what to tell you
Your joke was too complicated
By EM Painter
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:07pm
for the fanatics.
Fanatic
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:15pm
Yes. Expecting the police to follow the rules of their employment makes me a fanatic. When I know what those rules are. When my taxes supposedly pay for professionals to know them and exhibit mature behavior and self control.
I happen to live in the community where their "poor judgement" and other unprofessional behavior seems to continue without appropriate training and supervision or oversight or restraint.
It isn't your ballot in those boxes. Maybe you should just STFU.
you realize
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 11:02pm
that theyre guilty of taking a photo with 2 civilians in costume 2 days before halloween right
this is what you're mad about
this is what you called politicking
by the way, pretend i copied and pasted this to literally every person that is buttmad over this.
Not true
By SwirlyGrrl
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 11:05pm
There was a whole skit complete with a PA system.
Again, you don't live here. You haven't seen the videos that people took of the event or spoken to neighbors.
You are also clearly unfamiliar with the ethics laws. I suggest you look them up - the bind all public employees.
yea
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 11:06pm
i admit all i was going by was the article that we're all commenting on
also you have no idea where i live lol
link the laws then you nasty woman
We all know where you live
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:35am
We all know where you live: at the top of a pond.
Grow up, get therapy, stop being an antisocial shit-stirring damaged-goods freak.
You Swirls are an example of what's wrong
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 9:52am
with today's society - You can't take a joke. And before you get all high and mighty about "ethics laws" - which are too concerned with possible violations instead of actual ones, perhaps you should learn the meaning of the word context.
You anon are an example of what's wrong
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:37am
with today's society - you're stupid as a box of rocks and completely ignorant of election laws. It's because of gullible dimwits like you that our elections are a complete shit show. Now shut up and let the grownups talk.
Actually, the people who are crying
By anon
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 1:35pm
"It's not a joke, it's a serious violation of ethics and election laws" are the ones who are truly gullible. Here's a suggestion - just IGNORE it and let's focus on ACTUAL issues instead of always making up "scandals" that have no basis.
I am very familiar with ethics laws Swirly.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:41am
I'd love you to cite the violation here. Then possibly explain why the Ethics committee isn't doing anything about it.
In fact, there is no violation if a public employee wants to wear a sticker or button supporting a political candidate. The only reason why police officers cannot is because it is against most uniform policies, not violations of ethics laws.
I've seen the Ethics Commission rule in favor of public employees on much more serious alleged "violations" than this.
Your only mad because you don't like the Medford police, Trump and other people.
The police may have violated their own policy (That may be true), but this wouldn't amount to any sort of state ethics action, not even close.
You know what, Pete?
By Cutriss
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:39am
Maybe you shouldn't be so cavalier and ticky-tacky about this. Do cops tend to like it when constituents take a lawyer-ish view of the law? How many times have you had to deal with something along the lines of "Hey pig, you can't arrest me because of specific reason XYZ!" when the guy is clearly doing something wrong and is either leaning on some technicality or otherwise showing his ass?
Do you just shrug and say "Hey, well, ya got me there!" ? No, you either find some other way to nail the guy or you just wait for him to cross the line. Because judgment is involved, and you have a pretty good feeling this guy is going to do more than just antagonize you.
So, now we have this incident where the cops are the ones flirting with the letter of the law while violating the spirit of the law. And now you're complaining "it violates no laws or regulations!". Can you now maybe see where people might be upset by this?
Cops should be avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. This may have been a joke in poor taste, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if you like Trump or hate him. This gives people the impression that the cops have predetermined beliefs and conclusions. This puts people on the defensive. This indirectly causes police encounters to escalate.
My dad always said I had to respect him. I always had the point of view that respect is earned. This is part of the fundamental problem with policing in America.
Two different issues.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:44am
I'm not talking about impressions here, I'm talking about Ethics violations, which what Swirly was talking about.
Your other talking points are red herrings and don't really have anything to do with what I was talking about.
"Your only mad because you don't like the Medford police, Trump"
By Cutriss
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:51am
It's completely relevant to that part. Be less dismissive and re-read.
No it still isn't relevant.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:57am
Swirly is mad because she doesn't like something the Medford police did. She already doesn't like the Medford police (which is fine), and she has criticized them before.. But then she cites ethics violations as her reason her fury, not the potential department violation or inappropriateness of the acts.
If you want to say it was inappropriate or against department policy, I am fine with that. But don't tell me she isn't doing this because she is so concerned about public ethics law.
The rules are the rules
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:03am
Cops are not above the rules.
Don't play the "special cop" card. It looks really stupid.
Police have to follow the same rules as other civil servants. No exceptions. It isn't about not liking cops, it is about PROFESSIONALISM and FAIRNESS.
Wearing a Trump or Clinton sticker on a police uniform.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:16am
Is not a violation of State Ethics law. But I assume you may have an opinion about whether or not that is fair or not fair, or professional or not professional.
It is not professional, and that is why most police departments have their own policies regarding uniforms.
I'm not talking about your or anyone's opinions anon, I was talking about Swirly's disingenuous commentary.
it violated a particular ethics law actually
By Scumquistador
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:18am
the one swirly wrote on a napkin, immediately after she felt righteous indignation and rage at the portrayal of her candidate
Try it on Election Day
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:39am
It's a violation of something more serious than that if you try it while pulling a detail at a polling place. But of course these cops know that and would never do such a thing.
It wasn't a polling place, and it wans't election day.
By Pete Nice
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 10:37am
And a photo still most likely isn't going to be a violation with someone in a Halloween costume. (It might be unprofessional)
You do realize the entire issue here wasn't the photos, it was the posting of them by the organization, with a slogan, making it more than just a photo.
I'll say it a million times, the photo is not a violation of any Ethics law in this circumstance. Ask anyone on that Ethics commission.
That's exactly what I'm saying
By Cutriss
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:09am
Maybe the ethics accusation was off-base. I don't know, and I don't particularly care. It seems like the sort of thing that *should* be a violation.
But I can certainly validate that she has reason to be upset, and if you're thinking that it's purely because of this "ethics violation" thing, then again, you're being really ticky-tacky about it by invalidating the letter of her argument and ignoring the spirit of it. She may be wrong about the ethics violation, but you're dismissing her complaint entirely on that basis. It's very lawyer-ish and...well..a dickish thing to do. But hey, Internet.
And while we're on the topic of Internet...double-negative.
Fair enough Cutriss.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:11am
But I still disagree with you about the spirit of her argument, and that may have more to do with her past posting history which I am very familiar with. I think that is important.
Hey Pete
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:35am
Read this: http://www.mass.gov/ethics/education-and-training-...
Is that clear enough for your simple brain to comprehend?
Not as simple as you want it to be.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 2:33pm
You don't get to define what a "political" activity is. Taking pictures with people in costumes is not going to be considered a political activity. Especially seeing how this board has ruled in the past. Ever read a ethics committee document?
Ever see what they have used as an example of a poitical activity?
Didn't think so. Can your simple brain figure out how to file an FOI request and get us some examples or do you want to make up stuff?
They weren't just "taking pictures"
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 3:32pm
They had a whole skit going, with loud PA coverage.
Oh just stop it
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:41am
No? And taking pictures of one "candidate" being arrested and the other just standing around grinning and glad-handing isn't political either, I suppose?
You're gonna sprain something if you keep reaching like that.
As a community event with halloween costumes?
By Pete Nice
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 10:39am
No, this isn't Nazi Germany. This is America where yes, you need to stretch a little if you want to enforce laws in some sort of fascist sense that you seem to approve of.
For the fortythousanth time, Pete
By anon
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 11:57am
It wasn't "taking pictures with people in costumes"
There was an entire performance centered around arresting and chaining a candidate in effigy.
Spare us your testalying, please. You make yourself look massively stupid.
Not going to respond.
By Pete Nice
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 12:39pm
Your an anon fool who obviously did not see the performance.
"Not going to respond"?
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 2:01pm
But'cha DID, Blanche!
Why does the "anon fool" have less credibility than you did? Are you now claiming that YOU saw the performance?
Ethics violation
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:28am
This was not wearing a button. This was participating in a pueurile political passion play, and making it clear that they can't be trusted to monitor polls or handle ballot boxes.
The polls are rigged. Yes, yes they are.
Cavalier? Tacky-tacky?
By Anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:19pm
Ummm, bud, Pete is simply doing what swirly does in every post of hers, yet he gets a new one ripped for it and everybody here worships every square inch of the ground swirly managed to stink up. Quod licet Iovi non licet bovi, I s'ppose?
Poor butt hurt anon
By Jeff F
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 7:26pm
Swirls is hardly worshipped, and Pete is hardly demonized, by most regulars here. Both have been here a long time, are pretty sharp, but also have rather obvious biases. If anything, swirl's haters are far more knee-jerk and vociferous than those who disagree with Pete.
And no.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:09am
I do not think they are violating the spirit of the law, that much is very clear to me.
The spirit of the law is serious ethics breaches, not silly halloween photos.
Obviously not
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:49am
If you don't see the violation.
Even the herald could find the multiple conflict of interest violations in a short google.
Quit your day job dude, you're way out of it.
Lol
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:04am
Oh the Herald found them? Then it must be true. Let me know when the Ethics commission decides to act.
(In all seriousness, I did a "medium length" google search and couldn't find any Herald comments on this issue).
Next up
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:34pm
Officer Pete will tell us how you can burn a cross on the mayor's lawn in uniform and not be committing an ethics violation!
Yea because that is the same thing.
By Pete Nice
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 2:35pm
(Moron)
Arresting a candidate in effigy
By anon
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:51am
Pretty close, actually. Still an act of terrorism.
You have a sad life.
By Pete Nice
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 10:41am
Terrorism?
Wow.
I'm sure it was all good-natured fun
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:53am
But I think the biggest problem here is that many people feel very strongly against Trump's platform, including parts that would affect the function of police (like how immigrants might be treated), so police having the appearance of supporting Trump or not taking the issues seriously... is alarming.
Those look like decent guys in the photos, and I think someone thought it was a funny community outreach thing to post the photos, without realizing how it would look to a lot of people.
Another problem is that people want the police to be impartial, so if posing with people making political speech is done, the posted photos should've shown more balance, or it looks like an endorsement of some of the speech.
Not "good natured fun"
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:47am
"just a joke" is the last refuge of a bully.
These people are tasked with election duties. Their little "joke" says volumes about their commitment to free and fair elections.
I give the benefit of the doubt here
By Snuggles
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:14pm
Even with the benefit of the doubt, a mistake was made in appearances, and it sounds like they already acknowledged that.
swirly i am still waiting
By Scumquistador
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:07am
on exactly what specific ethics laws you're talking about
Read this
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:42am
Sent to all public workers very recently - or should have been.
Yes "public employee" means cops, too.
http://www.mass.gov/ethics/education-and-training-...
Go to #2 and read that if you are too lazy to read the whole thing.
oh god this is terrible
By Scumquistador
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:48am
i guess ill be moving right away from medford then
im sorry i doubted you
If you do live here
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:58pm
You'll have to leave pretty soon. People without jobs or prospects for them are being priced out. Maybe you can join these "jokers" in Wilmington?
haha
By Scumquistador
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 9:43pm
or one of the units i own in arlington maybe
oops, i guess that debunks your myth a little about me doesnt it
Hi MarKKK!
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:44am
Hey there! We were wondering what happened to you! Been run down by any cyclists lately?
Skit and PA?
By Snuggles
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 2:52pm
Who put on the skit and provided the PA?
community festival
By anon
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:42am
The PA was there for the festival events.
The cops put on the skit.
> blatant ethics violations
By Joe Blow
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:59am
> blatant ethics violations when a public employee engages in partisan politicking while in uniform. That's an absolute no.
Can we stop talking about Hillary Clinton already?
Funny
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 1:28am
Don't remember you making a stink out of Bill Clinton inside of Holy Name during the primary
That's because you need to see a neurologist
By adamg
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 9:41am
To get that memory problem checked out. Or maybe it's something simpler, like you need to learn how to use a search engine. Because that's what I did, and quickly found this (note: If you're reading this on a phone, the link might take you to the main post and you'll have to look for "swirly").
Did anyone ever look into possible charges
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 11:41pm
If there was an intent to prevent people from voting at Sanders-leaning locations, wouldn't that be a serious crime?
Are officials afraid to say anything?
Do you know something about West Roxbury?
By adamg
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 8:51am
West Roxbury was Sanders leaning? Really?
You think it's dumb that
By anon
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 9:57pm
You think it's dumb that people are upset that armed LEO are publicly taking sides in an election? The same armed LEO that will be at the polls on the Nov 8th. Frankly, it's chilling.
Personally, I feel they should have know better to even take the pictures, but for the union president to post them on the public union FB page with additional commentary is more than just a toe into unethical mud. Never mind, the announcer on stage at the event talking about Hillary going to jail over the speakers.
other than being strangely alarmist
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:08pm
what does the fact that they're armed matter
Maybe...
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:48am
...Donald Trump's coy little statements about not accepting the election results if they don't go his way, and his inciting his followers to do the same?
Can we end this dumpster fire of an election already?
By FredQuimby
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:01pm
And somebody get Medford a fitness program for their PD.
If only...
By Stevil
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:39pm
...somehow both of them could lose. To just about anybody.
We had that option
By lbb
Mon, 10/31/2016 - 9:57am
We had that option, and a lot of people chose not to exercise it, and that's why we are where we are today. And the ones complaining the loudest seem to be the ones who did the least to create other options.
Ugh
By B
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:29pm
I would expect to see something like this in say, Texas or maybe South Carolina. Medford PD, this is piss poor. It's bad enough there are so many ignorant people who think he would be suitable for POTUS. He wants to cut taxes left and right and bragged how the American way is to dodge taxes. See how those LEOs feel after they get canned because their funding gets snipped. I'm pro LEO btw
i mean
By Scumquistador
Sat, 10/29/2016 - 10:55pm
do police ever vote democrat lol
In NYC, I believe so.
By Kibby
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:12am
In NYC, I believe so.
Hillary was integral to first responders getting public health benefits post 9/11.
Wow what a position to take
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 12:52am
Please enlighten me on who voted against that.
Against the Zadroga Bill
By Michael
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:17am
weiRd, maybe theRe's a common theme uniting all these senatoRs, but damned if I can figuRe it out
Who Voted Against The 9/11 First Responders “Zadroga” Bill In The Senate:
Lamar Alexander, Republican, Tennessee.
John Barrasso, Republican, Wyoming.
Robert Foster Bennett, Republican, Utah.
Kit Bond, Republican, Missouri
Scott Brown, Republican, Massachusetts.
Sam Brownback, Republican, Kansas.
Jim Bunning, Republican, Kentucky.
Richard Burr, Republican, North Carolina.
Saxby Chambliss, Republican, Georgia.
Tom Coburn, Republican, Oklahoma.
Thad Cochran, Republican, Mississippi.
Susan Collins, Republican, Maine.
Bob Corker, Republican, Tennessee.
John Cornyn, Republican, Texas.
Mike Crapo, Republican, Idaho.
Jim DeMint, Republican, South Carolina.
John Ensign, Republican, Nevada.
Mike Enzi, Republican, Wyoming.
Lindsey Graham, Republican, South Carolina.
Chuck Grassley, Republican, Iowa.
Judd Gregg, Republican, New Hampshire.
Orrin Hatch, Republican, Utah.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican, Texas.
Jim Inhofe, Republican, Oklahoma.
Johnny Isakson, Republican, Georgia.
Mike Johanns, Republican, Nebraska.
Mark Kirk, Republican, Illinois.
Jon Kyl, Republican, Arizona.
George LeMieux, Republican, Florida.
Richard Lugar, Republican, Indiana
John McCain, Republican, Arizona.
Mitch McConnell, Republican, Kentucky.
Lisa Murkowski, Republican, Alaska.
Jim Risch, Republican, Idaho.
Pat Roberts, Republican, Kansas.
Jeff Sessions, Republican, Alabama.
Richard Shelby, Republican, Alabama.
Olympia Snowe, Republican, Maine.
John Thune, Republican, South Dakota.
David Vitter, Republican, Louisiana.
George Voinovich, Republican, Ohio.
Roger Wicker, Republican, Mississippi.
BOOM!
By anon
Sun, 10/30/2016 - 10:23am
BOOM!
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