Why Does It Matter?
After the police’s investigation concluded Rose’s conduct was illegal, BPD had a moral, ethical, and professional responsibility to prevent him from repeating his behavior. Instead of firing Rose, they stayed silent, allowing him to offend again.
This goes beyond a sole officer. What we’re seeing is the “blue wall of silence” — the creed that compels far too many police officers to not report other officers’ bad behavior, whether it be corruption, sexual abuse, or murder.
If the “blue wall of silence” sounds scary and malicious, it's because it is. As this episode shows, instead of upholding its duty to protect and serve Bostonians, BPD protects and serves itself. Internal affairs knew of this behavior but chose to do nothing. Each officer that didn’t act is an accessory to this crime.
What To Know
Rose is currently awaiting trial. Acting Mayor Janey said she’ll release the case files from 1995. We’ll keep you updated on any developments.
This behavior will only stop when BPD’s political power has been significantly reduced. Fortunately, there’s a Boston Mayoral race this year. As the election approaches, we’ll explore the candidates and their proposals to curtail BPD’s overreach.
