Boston Mayor Michelle Wu publicly praised Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden after he charged a Boston police officer with manslaughter in a fatal shooting. That decision deserves scrutiny.

“I am grateful to District Attorney Hayden and Commissioner Cox for the urgency they have brought to this investigation and for their commitment to transparency in the pursuit of justice,” Wu said in a statement.

That is not a neutral statement. It is a clear endorsement of how prosecutors handled a still-unfolding criminal case.

A Boston police officer responded to a reported carjacking. A suspect attempted to flee. A split-second decision was made. Now that the officer faces a manslaughter charge, Boston’s mayor has already praised the prosecution’s approach.

The facts are still being contested.

Prosecutors say the shooting was unjustified and point to body camera footage. The officer’s attorney says his client believed another officer was in danger. The public has not seen the footage.

This is exactly the kind of situation where political restraint matters.

Instead, Wu chose to highlight the “urgency” of the prosecution.

That word carries weight. It suggests approval of how quickly charges were brought in a case that will ultimately be decided in court.

When a mayor publicly praises prosecutors in an ongoing case, it risks signaling that City Hall has already taken a position before the judicial process plays out.

Public confidence in the justice system depends on the perception that cases are decided based on evidence, not political approval.

Boston police officers are asked to make fast decisions in dangerous situations. They are expected to protect the public while knowing their actions will later be reviewed.

If they begin to believe their city’s leadership will quickly align against them, it can affect how they respond in those moments.

That does not mean prosecutors should avoid bringing charges when they believe a crime occurred. Their responsibility is to follow the evidence and the law.

But elected officials have a different role.

Their job is to maintain trust in the process as a whole, not to signal approval of one side in an active case.

Wu could have expressed sympathy for everyone involved. She could have emphasized the seriousness of the situation. She could have called for a fair and transparent process.

Instead, she praised the prosecution’s urgency.

That choice matters.

This case will be decided in court, where evidence will be examined and challenged.

Boston’s mayor should act like she understands that.