Cop Who Released Boston Bomber Photos Stripped of Badge and Gun

July 23, 2013 — -- The Massachusetts state trooper who released photos of the accused Boston bomber's surrender was stripped of his gun and badge today and placed on restricted duty.

Sgt. Sean Murphy was assigned to desk duty while the department conducts an investigation into his unauthorized release of the photos. Officials said the probe will last several more weeks.

Murphy released the photos in response to the magazine "Rolling Stone's" photograph of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover. Murphy was furious by the photo, he told Boston Magazine, because it glamorized terrorism and diminished the tragedy of the Boston marathon bombings.

SEE THE PHOTOS MURPHY RELEASED ON ABC NEWS

The sergeant, a 25 year veteran, was placed on restricted duty following a departmental hearing today.

At a press conference after the hearing, Murphy's son Connor Murphy praised his father and said, "If I could be one fourth of the man he is now I'll be very happy with my life."

In a show of support, internet users have rallied around Murphy, claiming that he should be placed back on duty.

A Facebook page, "Save Sgt. Sean Murphy Rolling Stone True Pictures," was created on Friday.

"This petition is to save Trooper Sean Murphy his job. He did what I think most of us would have liked to do or would have done had we had the same resources," the Facebook page explains.

READ MORE ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY OF THE ROLLING STONES COVER HERE.

Another petition, Support Sergeant Sean Murphy, was created to raise $10,000 for Murphy to thank him for releasing the photos.

Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan are accused of setting off homemade bombs at the Boston marathon on April 15. The bombs killed three people and wounded over 260 Dzhokhar was charged with use of weapons of mass destruction, for which he could face the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty to the accusations.

ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.