D-4 Officers Help to Keep Marathon Safe and Secure

By Seth Daniel

Officer Steve Horgan of the South End (D-4) police district is well known around the world for his patented “hands-up” celebration for Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s home run during the World Series title run three years ago, but one sporting event he has put much more time into, along with D-4 Det. John Teixeira, is the Boston Marathon.

The Sun caught up with the neighborhood officers in the Back Bay at Copley Square on Monday as the runners were bearing down on the city and thousands of police were monitoring the grounds and the neighborhood.

“This is my 29th Marathon and we’ve done most of them together,” said Horgan from his Copley Square base. “We both went to the Academy together in the same class and have worked this for many years. It’s a great day. We had one bad day in 29 years, but look at today, there are families and volunteers and everyone is having a good day.”

Teixeira said the two officers from D-4 have long been on Marathon duty, and it boils down to about a 12-hour day. They usually report around 7 a.m. and finish up the shift by 7 p.m. typically.

“It’s been 28 years of great days and one bad day,” he said. “When we first came on, we were working this like ‘cops’ and it was very different. Now, we’re both like Sheriff Taylor around here.”

Horgan said they worked the “bad day” three years ago, and are part of the police team that intends to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

“Look around, it’s all families and tourists and everyone is having a great time on a great day,” said Horgan, who has been at D-4 for the last six years.

Det. Teixeira has served in D-4 since 1992.

Overall, security for the Marathon this year was exceptional according to Police Commissioner William Evans.

“Everyone followed the rules and the restrictions and cooperated with us,” he told the media after the race. “I don’t think we had a single arrest or citation today.”