Trooper who leaked Tsarnaev photos placed on desk duty
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. A Massachusetts State Police photographer who released photos of the bloodied Boston marathon bombing suspect during his capture has been placed on restricted duty.
Sgt. Sean Murphy leaked the photos to Boston Magazine last week, saying he wanted to counter a glamorized image of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
On Tuesday, Murphy was placed on desk duty, where he would have no contact with the public, until a further investigation is completed.
Murphy wasn't authorized to release the 14 photos, and he's already served a one-day, unpaid suspension. Some attorneys say the release of photos and Murphy's comments could be used to argue government bias against Tsarnaev.
The photos show Tsarnaev climbing out of a boat in Watertown at the conclusion of a nearly 24-hour manhunt for the Boston marathon bombing suspects on April 19, bloody and with a sniper's laser trained on his head.
According CBS Boston affiliate WBZ, the closed hearing took place before a three-person panel at department headquarters in Framingham.
After the hearing, Murphy's lawyer said his client was unauthorized to address the media, but his son spoke to WBZ.
"I support him 100 percent," Connor Murphy, 19, told the station. "I couldn't be prouder of him."
Murphy's lawyer detailed the support Murphy received from the public as well as the marathon bombing survivors and victims - including the family of slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier.
As Murphy walked into the hearing Tuesday morning, he told reporters, "life is good."
The U.S. attorney's office called the release of the photos "completely unacceptable," and some attorneys said the images and Murphy's comments could be used to argue government bias against Tsarnaev.
Others said it was important to show the real Tsarnaev after the flattering cover shot, which showed a brooding Tsarnaev in a pose that recalled the magazine's treatment of Jim Morrison.
The U.S. attorney's office called the release of the photos "completely unacceptable," and some attorneys said the images and Murphy's comments could be used to argue government bias against Tsarnaev.
Others said it was important to show the real Tsarnaev after the flattering cover shot, which showed a brooding Tsarnaev in a pose that recalled the magazine's treatment of Jim Morrison.
He had said in a statement to Boston magazine that the cover was an insult to police, military members and the families of anyone killed in the line of duty.
"This guy is evil," Murphy said. "This is the real Boston bomber. Not someone fluffed and buffed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine."
Rolling Stone said the cover story on Tsarnaev was part of its "long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day."
Tsarnaev, 20, has pleaded not guilty in connection with the April 15 bombing that killed three and injured or maimed 260. He's also accused of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer while on the run three days later. Tsarnaev escaped from police following a shootout in the Boston suburb of Watertown that day, during which he ran over his brother and alleged co-conspirator, Tamerlan Tsarnaev. His brother died of injuries suffered during the confrontation.