Boston Police are investigating a video featuring a Boston police officer that many are calling racist.
NBC Boston has obtained a copy of the video that appears to be a movie trailer poking fun at the Boston Police Officer, casting him in the lead of a buddy cop parody.
The video also shows the officer and a "dog with a limp" as partners "in the fight against good and evil.”
Then, the video takes a turn showing Black people at the annual Caribbean Carnival in Mattapan, Mass. and at another location. A graphic then reads, “This summer, Black people have met their match”
“It’s racist; there is no doubt about it,” said Larry Ellison, president of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers.
Ellison believes the video has the potential to create serious problems between police and the minority community.
“The event that was depicted is carnival - it’s coming up in August - that’s a huge event in the communities in color. It’s a multicultural event, so you look at that and say, ‘is that how police are going to treat me? Is that what they think about having to be out here to protect me?’” Ellison said.
U.S. & World
Boston Police Department spokesperson Lt. Detective Michael McCarthy said police saw the video Thursday and turned it over to internal affairs. He called the content "upsetting" and said that police are investigating where it came from and who's depicted in it.
Boston mayor Marty Walsh also condemned the video and any negative message it could send.
“We have to take swift action, find out what happened there, and then take the appropriate disciplinary action - whatever that will be,” said Walsh. “You are a police officer, both when you are on duty and when you are off duty. You take that oath of office and you have to act responsibly and respectfully and we can’t tolerate anything other than that."
