Mobile’s executive director of public safety defended two city police officers who were photographed in an “insensitive” viral social media post in which they posed next to what one of them called a “homeless quilt,” reports Al.com. James Barber, who oversees the police and fire departments and is a former police chief himself, said officers Preston McGraw and Alexandre Oliver are “good officers” who showed “bad judgment.” “It was taken out of humor but, again, it was in bad taste and certainly offensive to a lot of people in making light of homeless situations,” Barber said, referring to the picture of McGraw and Oliver standing next to confiscated cardboard signs from people who allegedly were asking for handouts.
The signs were taped together and contained messages for help. McGraw and Oliver were photographed standing next to the “quilt” inside the Mobile Police Department. The image was posted to social media with the text, “Wanna wish everybody in the 4th precinct a Merry Christmas, especially our captain. Hope you enjoy our homeless quilt! Sincerely, Panhandler patrol.” Barber’s comments come one day after Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste, long an advocate for homeless people, apologized for the actions of the two officers and for the “insensitive gesture,” which has been shared over social media.