The Medford Police Patrolmen's Association president is admitting poor judgment after photos of Medford officers arresting someone dressed up as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton were posted on their Facebook page.
The photos, posted Saturday, showed someone with a Clinton mask on, wearing an orange jumpsuit. The officers were holding handcuffs, as if they were arresting her, and smiling.
The caption of the photo said, Look who MPD grabbed at the Fall Festival in Haines Square today."
The Patrolmen's Association also posted a photo of three officers posing with someone dressed up as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, with a Trump mask on. The caption said, "Making America GREAT again in West Medford Square!!"
The photos were taken at a Halloween festival in West Medford.
While some people commented in favor of the photos, but most of them were critical.
"This is inappropriate. When in uniform, police officers should be politically neutral," Mary Landale commented.
"As a citizen of Medford, I am appalled by police making it clear that I, and so many others, are not welcome or safe here," Katarina Dutton said.
The State Ethics Commission advises all public employees to not partake in any political activities while on the job, especially in uniform.
"A public employee who engages in such political activity, unless the activity is of truly minimal duration or significance (such as wearing a political campaign button to work in a public office), violates the conflict of interest law," says the commission.
By 8:15 p.m., all the photos were deleted from the Facebook page. Medford Police Patrolmen's Association President Harold MacGilvray said they were deleted because the comments were getting out of control.
MacGilvary told FOX25 the photos were a joke.
"These were Halloween costumes. It was meant totally as a joke. I apologize if this offended anyone in any way. I never expected this sort of reaction. It was poor judgment on my part," MacGilvray said.
He was in one of the photos himself.
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