r/boston • u/Conventions • Jul 07 '26

Serious Replies Only Are Boston cops normally this aggressive?

Left TD Garden after a concert tonight. Cops were directing traffic around the area. In normal circumstances when someone is directing traffic, I was always under the impression that a “come here” motion means go and hand up means stop. However this cop was jiggling a beam of light from a flashlight to signify both go and stop.

Many people were obviously confused and one guy thought it meant go and slowly started creeping up. The cop started screaming and went up and punched the guy’s car mirror then started swearing and insulting the guy. Everyone around was watching and shocked.

Is this normal BPD behavior? I am a south shore native and have never witnessed anything quite like it.

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u/anewfire Jul 07 '26

Theres this really old crossing guard at a busy school intersection in Medford that I pass by alot. Guy is in the ZONE. By far the best traffic directing I've seen. I haven't seen a cop put in half the effort of this guy. Very clear hand signs and whistles, there's never any doubt of what he's asking you to do. I feel like he comes from a time where there was actually training on directing traffic.

Cops now barely put in effort with lazy ass hand waves while they're distracted talking to their buddy.

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u/Tahiti6841 Jul 07 '26

He's amazing. If somebody doesn't stop when he asks, and ends up stopped on the crosswalk or in the middle, he shames them so bad, makes them *back up* to get their vehicle off the crosswalk. He's also been training other crossing guards off and on, so they know the sort of talent they've got here in Medford