The backdrop to the day was TD Garden, where Northeastern University held its commencement. As 20,000 people clapped and roared, Gov. Deval Patrick conferred an honorary degree on Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis for his handling of the marathon bombings investigation.
“Your extraordinarily united efforts made possible an investigation that moved with astonishing speed and focus, to identify the suspects, enabling millions to to feel of us to feel safer in our daily lives,” Patrick said.
The Governor also paid tribute to law enforcement and first responders who sprung into action after the marathon bombings.
“During the traumatic attack on our city and in the hours and days that followed, you ran toward danger, to care for the injured, comfort the bereaved, and keep our citizens safe from further harm, without regard for your personal safety,” he said.
After the ceremony, Patrick continued to voice praise for law enforcement’s handling of the case.
“This was a beautifully coordinated investigation, at every level, from the FBI and the ATF to the members of the joint terrorism task force, the state police and local police,” he said.
But questions are emerging into whether the FBI could have prevented the attack. In 2011, Russia alerted the U.S. about suspected bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother. The FBI says it vetted the information, talked to Tsarnaev and determined he was not a threat.
Now, more details are surfacing from Tameran’s brother Dzhokar, when he talked to investigators in his hospital room. According to two law enforcement officials, the brothers considered suicide attacks and striking on July 4. But they finished building the bombs faster than they had anticipated, so they struck almost three months earlier on Patriot’s Day.
Today, Patrick assured the public the 4th of July celebration on the Esplanade is safe.
“Based on what I know, I feel very safe,” he said. “And I take that sense of comfort from the thoroughness of the law enforcement work that’s underway.”
Leaving nothing to chance and to further reassure the public, Boston Police Chief Davis says you should expect extra safety measures at this year’s Esplanade Celebration.
“We can effectively protect as many people come into this city just as good as any other city in the world, he said. ”Certainly, when people target soft targets, that’s an added difficulty for us. But we’re looking around the country at best practices, and around the world, actually, and we’re going to be there on July fourth, and and people should feel safe. They should not be afraid to come into the city.“
