Barnes participated in an Oct. 12 sting which found two underage Boston College students in the bar, but not in possession of alcohol.

"It was like turning the kitchen light on and the roaches scatter to the four corners," says Barnes. "People have rights, you can't just say 'hey, stop right there.' There's a very narrow area to work with. You're looking forward to the hearing. It's very difficult to walk that fine line. And I don't look the part, I'm in full uniform. It's kind of a blitzkrieg thing."

The case was brought to a hearing at the Cambridge License Commission on January 23.

Barnes and License Commission Chief Investigator Andrea Boyer testified that they had found two minors in the bar who could have been served alcohol illegally, as the bar only checks IDs at the door.

Rafferty responded that he was "mystified" as to why McCarthy had been brought before the ABCC, because the students had not been drinking and no violations were committed. He speculated the students were at the Grille because its "social environment promotes a camaraderie unavailable in dormitories" and that the students had not intended to drink.

Former police captain Henry Breen was skeptical.

"It's better than saying they went for the hot wings," he quipped.