Boston Police On Alert After New York Officers Killed
BOSTON (CBS) – Mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Police Commissioner Williams Evans stood with New York City. An attack on officers there, they say, is an attack on officers everywhere.
"You can't retaliate against the police. Let's have conversations. My door is open in the city of Boston," Walsh said Sunday.
On Saturday, two New York police officers were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol cars. The suspect, who then killed himself, made suggestions on social media that he planned the murders as revenge for the police-involved deaths of unarmed black men.
Evans says the current climate is especially discouraging.
"I take it personally because people take us for granted. When we're good, they love us. When something bad happens, they're very quick to throw us under the bus," Evans said.
Evans is asking his officers to remain more vigilant than ever, but also knows how hard his department works to build relationships and trust in every community.
"(Over the) last three or four days, I've gone to more Christmas parties where people came up and said, 'You know what? Your department is doing a great job. Don't let what happening across the country get you down'," said Evans.
He says the tension here on city streets -- particularly during recent protests -- is palpable and misdirected.
"Sixteen months ago we had the marathon bombing, walking out of Watertown, people were cheering us. I never had a greater feeling in the world. It's sad how things have changed in 16 months," said Evans.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports:
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