A State Police sergeant who released photos of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev without authorization will face a hearing next week to determine his employment status, State Police said Friday.
Sean Murphy, a tactical photographer who took the dramatic pictures of Tsarnaev’s capture in Watertown on April 19, was relieved of duty Thursday after releasing the images to Boston magazine.
Murphy leaked the photos because he was angry over the depiction of Tsarnaev on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, calling it an “insult to any person who has ever worn a uniform of any color.â€
Murphy’s photos first appeared online Thursday afternoon on Boston magazine’s website.
The status hearing will determine whether Murphy, a 25-year veteran of the force, will return to full duty, restricted duty, or be suspended, a State Police spokesman said.
Federal prosecutors handling the case called the leak “completely unacceptable.â€
The State Police Association of Massachusetts, the union that represents Murphy, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Peter Schworm can be reached at schworm@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globepete.
