Two Mobile Police Officers have caused outrage online after an image of them appearing to ridicule homeless people went viral over the holiday period.

The post shows the two officers holding up a so-called “quilt” of cardboard signs apparently confiscated from homeless people in the city. The accompanying text says: “Wanna wish everybody in the 4th precinct a Merry Christmas, especially our captain. Hope you enjoy our homeless quilt. Sincerely Panhandler patrol.”

The two officers, Preston McGraw and Alexandre Olivier, are recent graduates of the Mobile Police Academy. McGraw graduated in February of 2018 and Olivier in January of 2019. Two other people are also tagged in the image but it’s not clear who they are.

The photo appears to have been taken inside a Mobile Police Department office.

Update on Dec. 31, 2019: Mobile public safety director defends officers in viral ‘homeless quilt’ photo

Imagine taking pride in terrorizing the most vulnerable people in society Posted by Eduardo Romero on Sunday, December 29, 2019

Mobile Chief of Police Lawrence Battiste, who has long been an advocate for homeless people in Mobile, offered apologies on behalf of his department for the post.

“As a police department entrusted with serving and protecting our community, we offer our sincerest apology for the insensitive gesture of a Facebook post by two of our officers where they are holding up a homeless “quilt” made of panhandling signs," said Chief Battiste. "Although we do not condone panhandling and must enforce the city ordinances that limit panhandling, it is never our intent or desire as a police department to make light of those who find themselves in a homeless state. Rather, our position has always been to partner with community service providers to help us help those faced with homelessness with hope to improve their quality of life.”

AL.com also emailed every city council member for comment. No one has yet responded.

Since being posted online the image has been shared more than 10,000 times and has over 3,000 comments. Many comments claim the image to be in poor taste, especially during the holiday season.

Mobile first passed its controversial panhandling law in 2010. Under the city rule, asking for money is allowed only outside of the downtown area referred to as the Visitors Domain.

The law was crafted to apply to a small area popular with tourists and visitors in order to comply with federal court decisions that have found citywide bans on begging to be an unconstitutional violation of free speech. A separate section of the ordinance addresses panhandling in the rest of the city.

Panhandling in the restricted area can lead to a fine of up to $500, community service and/or up to 6 months in jail, as determined by the municipal court.