Framingham police chief angry over swastika next to his photo May 25, 2010
Norman Miller 508-626-3823 Metrowest Daily News
FRAMINGHAM -- Police Chief Steven Carl said he is angry about a photo on a frequent police department critic's website that shows a picture of the chief next to a picture of a swastika.

"I'm offended," said Carl, who is Jewish. "That's a well-known hate symbol. I'm offended as a police officer and I'm offended as a Jewish citizen."

But, Harold Wolfe of Framingham, the creator of A Better Framingham, said the swastika has nothing to do with Carl being Jewish, but rather how he believes the Framingham Police operate like Nazis.

Wolfe said he had no idea Carl was Jewish, but does not plan on changing the website. He said the two photos have been on his site since 2007.

Wolfe said he put the photos up after he was arrested on June 15, 2007, by Officer Greg Reardon and charged with assault and battery on a police officer. Wolfe was found guilty by a Framingham District Court Jury on May 29, 2008, fined $800 and put on probation for one year.

"If he's offended by that swastika, too bad," said Wolfe. "I was even more offended by what they did. They arrested me like the Germans arrested the Jews. I think the police department acted like a bunch of Nazis."

Carl said, "I think he's crossing the line of free speech."

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