Should Police Tactical Photographer Have Been Suspended for Releasing 'Real' Photos of Boston Bomber?

Public outrage surrounding the August edition of the left-leaning Rolling Stone continues after it was revealed yesterday that the magazine cover will feature a picture of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev which many have perceived to be inappropriate. In addition to individuals denouncing the cover across social media, FOX News reports that at least five large retailers--including CVS and Walgreens--have said they will not put the edition on their shelves.

In response to the rockstar imagery Tsarnaev received from Rolling Stone, Sgt. Sean Murphy of the Mass State Police (a tactical photographer) gave photos of the Boston bomber at the time of his capture to Boston Magazine. In the photos of a dirty, bloody and disheveled Tsarnaev, many see what they believe to be a more accurate portrait of the bomber than what was on Rolling Stone. In addition to the photos, Murphy also gives some background to Boston Magazine about why he released the images:

“I hope that the people who see these images will know that this was real. It was as real as it gets. This may have played out as a television show, but this was not a television show. Officer Dick Donohue almost gave his life. Officer Sean Collier did give his life. These were real people, with real lives, with real families. And to have this cover dropped into Boston was hurtful to their memories and their families…”

Murphy has been suspended by the Massachusetts State Police pending an investigation for his actions.

On "Real News" Friday the panel discussed the Rolling Stone cover and Murphy's actions and subsequent suspension.

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