Xiarhos: Memorials not enough to support police
May 20, 2026
I am honored to have an op-ed published in today’s Boston Herald. Sadly, the subject is the tragic deaths of so many members of law enforcement and other heroic first responders here in Massachusetts.
These brave men and women perform jobs that are dangerous by nature, but their service becomes even more dangerous when violent criminals are allowed to roam our streets with impunity.
It is time for the Legislature to act on proposals that hold dangerous offenders accountable and help protect not only our police officers and first responders, but the public as well.
The victims of crime are not anonymous. They are sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, and neighbors — real people taken from us far too soon.
Fixing the failures that contribute to these tragedies is a choice. We must choose to act. We cannot allow more lives to be lost on our watch.
