What do you think the British were doing when an insurrection was happening?Here's the video.
If Sam Adams beat the crap out of Peace Officers who were only keeping the peace, then he was a POS. No one there that day was Sam Adams level no matter how they saw themselves. Anyone who did this to the officer is a POS. Anyone who supports the actions towards the officer is a POS. Anyone who witnessed this, had opportunity to intervene and didn't is a POS.
You think they were trying to break the peace or keep the peace?