When a bad cop is indicted, the good ones receive an affront too

[Joel S. Berson]

A Boston police detective is indicted on charges that he fraudulently
claimed disabilities. U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz (a recent Obama
appointment) says "The allegations against Mr. Gonzales are an
affront to the honest men and women of the Boston Police
Department."  Boston Globe, March 25, Metro, B1.

The honest cops of Boston may have felt betrayed by Gonzales, or be
concerned that onlookers tar them with guilt by association, but
"affront" = "An insult offered to the face; a word or act expressive
of intentional disrespect; a purposed indignity; an open insult or
outrage" seems wrong.  And even if one stretches "insult", surely the
"allegations" are not the "affront".

Joel

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org