The Massachusetts State Police officer who released photos of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has reportedly been relieved of duty, but not fired.
Boston Magazine editor John Wolfson tweeted that tactical photographer Sgt. Sean Murphy, who gave photos to Boston Magazine on Thursday, has been relieved of duty, but not yet fired, and has been ordered not to speak to media about the Watertown events:
Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio confirmed that Murphy had been relieved of duty and will have a status hearing to determine whether he'll be suspended, CNN reports.
Upon releasing the photos to Boston Magazine, Murphy expressed his frustrations with Rolling Stone's controversial depiction of Tsarnaev on their magazine cover, stating:
As a professional law-enforcement officer of 25 years, I believe that the image that was portrayed by Rolling Stone magazine was an insult to any person who has every worn a uniform of any color or any police organization or military branch, and the family members who have ever lost a loved one serving in the line of duty.
CORRECTON: An earlier version of this article misattributed confirmation of Murphy's relief of duty to Murphy himself. A Massachusetts State Police spokesman confirmed that Murphy was relieved.