Mayor Flynn said he continues to stand by Roache and brushed off the call for his boyhood friend to vacate the post he has held since Flynn appointed him in 1985.

The editorial, aired at the end of the 6 o'clock news, cited recent Globe articles on mismanagement in the Internal Affairs Department and a report issued in July by US Attorney Wayne Budd outlining allegations of police misconduct as signs that Roache has lost control over his department.