The point about the arrest Monday by a Cambridge Police sergeant of Harvard Distinguished Professor Henry “Skip” Gates is not that the police initially thought the celebrated public intellectual, PBS host and MacArthur Award winner might have been a crook who had broken into Gates’ rented home. Anyone capable of seeing a 58-year-old man with a cane accompanied by a man in a tux as a potential burglar might make the same mistake, given that a neighbor had allegedly called 911 to report seeing two black men she thought were breaking into the house.
But after Prof. Gates had shown the cops his faculty ID and his drivers’ license, and had thus verified his identity, and after he had explained that he had just returned home on a flight from China and had been getting help from his limo driver in opening a stuck door, the cops should have been extremely polite and apologetic for having suspected him and for having insisted on checking him out.
After all, a man’s home is supposed to be his castle. When you violate that sanctity, you should, as a police officer, appreciate that the owner might be upset.
But where it really goes wrong is what happened next.
Prof. Gates, who was understandably outraged at the whole situation, properly told the sergeant that he wanted his name and his badge number, because he intended to file a complaint. Whether or not the officer had done anything wrong by that point is not the issue. It was Gates’ right as a citizen to file a complaint. The officer’s alleged refusal to provide his name and badge number was improper and, if Gates’ claim is correct, was a violation of the rules that are in force in every police department in the country.
But whatever the real story is regarding the showing of identification information by Gates and the officer, police misconduct in this incident went further. Gates reportedly got understandably angry and frustrated at the officer for refusing to provide him with this identifying information and/or for refusing to accept his own identification documents, and at that point the officer abused his power by arresting Gates and charging him with disorderly conduct.
There’s nothing unusual about this, sadly. It is common practice for police in America to abuse their authority and to arrest people on a charge of “disorderly conduct” when those people simply exercise their free speech rights and object strenuously to how they are being treated by an officer. Try it out sometime. If you are given a ticket for going five miles an hour over the posted speed limit, tell the traffic officer he or she is a stupid moron, and see if you are left alone. My bet is that you will find yourself either ticketed on another more serious charge, or even arrested for “disorderly conduct.” If you happen to be black or some other race than white, I’ll even put money on that bet. (If you’re stupid enough to go out and test this hypothesis, please don’t expect me to post your bail!)
There is no suggestion by police that Gates physically threatened the arresting officer. His “crime” at the time was simply speaking out.
What is unusual is not that the officer arrested Gates for exercising his rights. That kind of thing happens all the time. What’s unusual is that this time the police levied their false charge against a man who is among the best known academics in the country, who knows his rights, and who has access to the best legal talent in the nation to make his case (his colleagues at the Harvard Law School).
Very little of the mainstream reporting I’ve seen on this event makes the crucial point that it is not illegal to tell a police officer that he is a jerk, or that he has done something wrong, or that you are going to file charges against him. And yet too many commentators, journalists and ordinary people seem to accept that if a citizen “mouths off” to a cop, or criticizes a cop, or threatens legal action against a cop, it’s okay for that cop to cuff the person and charge him with “disorderly conduct.” Worse yet, if a cop makes such a bogus arrest, and the person gets upset, he’s liable to get an added charge of “resisting arrest” or worse.
We have, as a nation, sunk to the level of a police state, when we grant our police the unfettered power to arrest honest, law-abiding citizens for simply stating their minds. And it’s no consolation that someone like Gates can count on having such charges tossed out. It’s the arrest, the cuffing, and the humiliating ride in the back of a cop squad car to be booked and held until bailed out that is the outrage.
I’m sure police take a lot of verbal abuse on the job, but given their inherent power—armed and with a license to arrest, to handcuff, and even to shoot and kill—they must be told by their superiors that they have no right to arrest people for simply expressing their views, even about those officers.
Insulting an officer of the law is not a crime. Telling an officer he or she is breaking the law is not a crime. Demanding that an officer identify him or herself is not a crime. And saying you are going to file a complaint against the officer is not a crime.
As someone who, although white, spent his youth in the 1960s and early 1970s with long hair and a scraggly beard–both red flags to police back in the day–and who had his share of run-ins with police for that reason alone, I can understand to some extent what African-Americans, and especially African-American men, go through in dealing with white police officers. I used to be “profiled” as a druggie/lefty/hippy and was stopped regularly for no reason when I lived in Los Angeles and drove an 20-year-old pick-up truck. I’d be pushed up against the vehicle, frisked, shouted at, talked to threateningly. I’d have my vehicle searched (without a warrant). And if I objected, I’d be threatened with arrest, though I had done nothing. Under those circumstances, you quickly learn to be very deferential around police.
Prof. Gates was simply experiencing the frustration that young black men feel routinely, and that I used to feel back when I had hair and chose to grow it long—the feeling of being at the mercy of lawless, power-tripping cops.
In a free country, we should not allow the police, who after all are supposed to be public servants, not centurions, to behave in this manner. When we do, we do not have a free society. We have a police state.
95 comments ↓
this country isgoing down hill. Only we can help. Do your part damnit.
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There's a UTUBE movie I saw a few months ago …….. a camera from a state police cruiser along with a microphone on the officer …. think it awas Alabama…… The trooper pulled this white guy over and the guy was the most insulting mealy mouthed a'hole to the Officer. The officer stayed cool listening to his crap while he wrote the ticket and smiled handed him the ticket and told him to have as nice day. That's cool ! Something smells on this one!
Um, are you kidding?? That you were a hippie in the 60's/70's makes you understand what African-Americans went/go through? While you were frisked and illegally searched in the 60's, African-Americans were getting beat for simply being black. Being "deferential" didn't really help the matter much. Award-winning or not, you might want to transfer to the Metro section, if your editor hasn't made that choice for you.
Woah woah woah! Dave hold on a minute.
The officer repeatedly asked for Gates id but was refused untill he eventually supplied a University ID which did not provide sufficent information to verify that he was the home owner. During this whole time Gates was insulting the officer and not acting like an upstanding member of the community should have been. This officer was just trying to do his job, take a step back and look at it. Having been called on a possable home invasion the officer wanted to understand what was going on here and took approptiate action. Heck I know many more officers that would have ordered the two men (Gates and the driver) to get off the property untill proper identification could be made. This was a very rutine call that should have ended with a "Thank You Officer for checking in on my property and being concerned for my safety. You have a good night, y'hear?"
Gates acted inappropriatly and should feel ashamed that he has caused this whole mess. I know he won't be he should apologize to the officer who was just trying to do his job.
You're an idiot. He was arrested for disorderly conduct not breaking into his house. Basicly he was causing a scene and being an asshole. He played the race card even though this clown has claimed in taped interviews that he is 58% genetically white. The guy is a moron. Try reading the incident report.
Thank you officer for doing your job
Not giving him his name and badge is not a crime either.
Cops lie in incident reports. They "enhance" the truth for the purposes of prosecution.
You are going out of your way to defend a bigoted cop on a power trip instead of someone arrested out of spite/class-envy in their own home. Just so you know, mouth-breather.
In many areas it is actually. Most officers are required by law to identify as an officer, including name and badge number. Whereas citizens are only required to identify when under arrest.
Its not illegal to "cause a scene" or "be an asshole." Read the law on "Disorderly Conduct," tumultuous behavoir is not enough without probabilty of incitment to violence. The police officer knew the charge was unjustified, yet he wanted to get back at the guy for insulting him, so he booked him. Officer=not doing his job.
This is why you have to sue!!!! I respect the fact that finally we have a president that uses his god given brains!! Anybody without the ability to see a respectable senior citizen (even if he was angry) with a cane, in his home as the victim should only comment when someone ruffs up their grandparents!!! Otherwise, your comments don't deserve a response. This cop was racist!!! True the professor was probably an ass,but he is far from a criminal!!! SUE, SUE, SUE!!!! If you think otherwise be prepared to unleash this asshole on your grandparents.
Way to go out of your way to prejudge this officer as a bigot when you have absolutely zero proof to support that assertion. Typical mindless drivel from someone without a real argument, immediately play the, "you're a racist" card and expect everyone to just accept your stance as valid.
For someone with ACLU in his name you sure don't know the law very well. The officer lost all probable cause the minute he saw the old man with him hands empty and his car in the driveway, he should have left the home that very second, if requested. What Gates said or did not say after that point is largely irrelevant to the constitutionality of the arrest.
Check out Gates controversial history first. And everyone knows not to piss off a cop. Yes officer …
I guess you were there and know exactly know what happened huh?
Give me a break – for someone with such distinguished background should have acted appropriately.
Right, because when you piss off a cop, you get arrested on a false or trumped up charge! D'uh!
Wait, wasn't that what we were talking about?
It is a crime for a police to not give his badge numbers. It is your RIGHT to know the badge number of any police you encounter, should you wish to know.
Huh? Old men are allowed to rob houses? or just crooks who park their cars in the driveways of the houses they are robbing.
Seriously, if you can't prove it is your house, be nice to the cop until you can prove it.
It's common sense.
Gates is an embarrassment to his university.
To have someone be upset that the policeman was just trying to make sure that Gates was who he said he was are only fooling themselves. Flip this story around and say that the cop found an older gentleman in someone's house (that didn't belong there) and didn't check his ID. The press and the general public would nail his hide to the wall for not doing his job. Police have a hard enough time performing their duties ( http://www.odmp.org/year.php )
All the gentleman had to do was show the officer a piece of ID that had his address on it. (I am sure that his faculty card did not have his address on it. that is why the officer asked for more ID).
Is it so hard to get your drivers license out for someone who is actually looking out for your best interests? (I.E. Making sure that this was in fact Mr. Gates and not someone who was going to rob the place) or would you have rather just let reports of people trying to "get into" a house go unchecked? libertarian
I guess noone heard the witnesses who were there that basically support everything that the cop said and none of what Gates said?
Jebus….there had been many daylight break-ins in that neighborhood…the cop followed the book on securing the area and asking for ID without having another officer present…we have multiple witness statements corroborating the cops story…the cop warned him many many times to calm down and identified himself many times…and pretty soon we will have audiotape on Gates acting like a jerk.
Cops can't do their jobs without some jerk like this acting like the elitist pompous a-hole he is….and every loser on the Internet weighing in on why cops suck. Well I hope you think cops suck the next time someone breaks into your house and they don't show up.
Pure socialism. Why is there a problem? This is everyone's dream.
Your view is warped that its common sense to assume a man in his late fifties, walking with a cane, with his nice car right out in front of the house packed with luggage, in broad daylight, is a burglar.
But that is not why you are wrong. Your wrong because the timeline is 1. Gates identifies himself 2. Gates is mean to the cop 3. Cop arrests him on a charge which Gates' behavior did not qualify.
Embarrassment or not, I'll say it again, this time real slow so you can comprehend: What Gates said or did not say is largely irrelevant to the constitutionality of this arrest.
Even if the cop's story is 100% true, the arrest was still unlawful. Its not illegal to "act like an elitist pompous a-hole" or "be a jerk." Read the law on "Disorderly Conduct," tumultuous behavoir is not enough without probabilty of incitment to violence. The police officer knew the charge was unjustified, yet he wanted to get back at the guy for insulting him, so he booked him. The arrest was unconstiturional, and the DA dropped the charge because he would never win at court.
jerk
The next, or any, time someone breaks into my home, I will shoot them. Shoot them stone cold dead, if I deem it necessary.
Since Gates wasn't breaking in, and it was his own home, that's not relevant to this case, though. By the way, when a cop accuses you of breaking into your own home, then finds out he did so, the proper thing to do is apologize and leave. Staying there and demanding the homeowner calm down is irrational and only serves to escalate the situation.
The last time I had someone break into my home, I did not own a gun, and when the police I called to report the break-in, vandalism and bias crime (specific Pagan religious items in my room where destroyed, though the room was not otherwise disturbed aside from some electronics the thief left on my bed when he fled the scene) arrived, I was threatened with arrest by one of the officers. He stated that he believed that the break-in was a "Satanic hazing initiation ritual" and that I was therefore guilty of filing a false police report. I did not get upset at the time, mostly because the idea was so ridiculous I couldn't really believe anyone could be seriously suggesting it, at first.
One of the other officers had to physically pull the cop back from jamming his flashlight in my face and yelling at me. They left without taking a report or investigating the actual crime. Apparently, as a non-Christian, not being arrested for having the temerity to call the police was the best compromise I could hope for. The next day, I did two things:
1. Purchased a firearm for self-defense.
2. Put away forever the ludicrous idea that I could rely on the police.
If I had called the police and they, as you so smugly put it, "didn't show up," I would have been spared a frightening and disturbing experience, and the thief would have gotten away with the attempted robbery, bias crime, and vandalism … which he did anyway. If you think the cops are so flawless, try getting help from one when you fall into their definition of "them" in the "us vs. them" equation.
the was in his own home.
the cop did not pay the house payment.
since the cop knew the man was in his own home the cop could have provided his name and badge number and left gracefully.
welcome to our coward richard cheney ((5 deferrments for vietnam) i went twice), police state.
it is more than time for international tribunals on richard cheney for war crimes, after all while hiding in his air force bunker he ran the government.
My Grandfather was a very well respected officer. He was the first officer to die out of the line of duty and receive a 15 gun salute. I accepted many awards in his honor. He patrolled even while undergoing chemotherapy. I loved him immensely.
Cops today are like Mafia enforcers without a clue. Law and Order is no longer a part of this country. I am a law abiding, stand-up citizen, and yet I live in fear from officers and the judicial system.
Your point is lost in a haze of spelling and grammar errors.
He never said he understood it completely. He said "to an extent". He isn't claiming that the plight of a hippy in the 60's even compares. He's just saying he knows what it's like to be routinely treated poorly by a cop.
In an era where police officers kill 350 people a year, Prof. Gates might be lucky he wasn't tasered or shot. Ironically, being a police officer is now one of the safest jobs in America:
http://willworkforjustice.blogspot.com/2009/02/po...
Here is what Tyler Cowen said about the Gates matter:
"Some time ago we decided, for better or worse, to give policemen a lot of discretion in intimidating individuals, including innocent individuals and especially African-Americans. I don't think we chose an optimum but it is disingenuous to be suddenly shocked by what happened."
Dave your anti-police bigotry is repulsive. NOBODY, I repeat, NOBODY should have to put up with harassment, not even cop who was just doing his job. And even if he was not acting a professional manner you just do not harass somebody because they are being a jerk. Being verbally abusive is not exercising your free speech rights.
Does smell a bit doesn't it? Did the officer know he was carrying a mic? Or that there was a camera in the car?
You're joking right? Did you read the police report? The office provided his name several times. Each time he did, Prof. Gates started screaming over him about how this was because he was a black man in America. All the officer did to instigate this was to ask him to step onto the porch to discuss the matter as it was acoustically impossible due to the room they were in and the shouting. Prof. Gates acted immaturely in his statement of "I'll talk to your mama outside" and may have been in a poor mood due to having to break into his own home. Regardless of that fact, he should have had a cooler head as someone who is so well respected for his intellect. The Prof. wasn't arrested for the things he said to the officer, but for the fact that he refused to cooperate, which is disorderly. If he had just said "Here's my id, let me get my cane and we can discuss it on the porch," he wouldn't be a news story today.
Yes. Everyone has a right not to be abused in his job. But not everyone can arrest some one for hurting their feelings. They choose to be police officers. There are responsibilities associated with being a police officer and one of them is putting up with people yelling at them. And by the way, Yes, they do have to tell you their badge number and name. This is a country of laws and no one is above it. It doesn't matter that Gates was yelling naked and screaming at him. That's not a reason to arrest someone. And the fact that the charges were dropped the next day proves that.
The "gentleman" did show both his Harvard ID and his drivers license. Which should have ended the conversation. But the officer apparently thought that Gates had a little too much sass in his voice.
The problem is how amazingly uneducated police officers are. They take 10 criminal justice credits at the county college and go to police academy and are cops. You get what you pay for. No one is sitting around deciding if they want to go to med school or the police academy.
But it is. You have the right to say whatever you want, as long as it's not a physical threat. Saying something another person objects to does not constitute harassment.
You are a dumbass. This is a great article. And "freedom of speech" mean you can say whatever you want. Verbal harassment should be taken by cops without any backlash at all.
Just because he qualified his statements with "to an extent" doesn't mean he's not claiming his plight as a long-haired hippie is in some way equatable to the experience of African-American males. That's the point of that paragraph. I'm not sure how it could be read any other way. That he thinks being a long-haired white male is even *remotely* comparable to a black male's experience in this society is what's outrageous, and jaw-droppingly self-righteous. It's sorta like a rich guy saying he knows what homeless people go through because, one time, he lost his wallet–a total non sequitur. (See how I qualified that with "sorta" but I'm still undeniably asserting something?)
Respect the police.
At what point do citizens cooperate with the police? Is it the duty of the citizen to challenge the police officer at every turn? Sure, it's your right not to cooperate with the police who are investigating a crime, but what ever happened to dialogue in order to clear up confusing situations?
If people refusing to cooperate in order to clarify situations and the police might just stop caring.
The next time someones breaking into a home, a cop stops him and he criminal advises he lives there, but refuses to show ID.
Why wouldn't the cop just walk away, remembering what happened in this case and remind himself, ' It's just not worth it '.
Don't anyone dare answer, ' because it's his job', as look what happens when cops do their jobs. The masses turn on them like rabid wolves.
Careful now, you may get what you wish for.
First off, you do not live in a free country, this is proven by everything you write. Americans gave up all their freedom willingly when the "terror" attacks started..
Second of all, what does being a hippy 30 or so years ago have anything to do with the racial discrimination people undergo every day?
That said, I do support taking action agains a police state, as long as it is peacefull and has a positive effect on the way people are treated.
Which, ultimately has to do with respect. A thing which is thrown out the window by many who have too little and feel left out, or who have too much and feel they should be allowed more.
It matters not the arrest was false and or powerless.It embarrassed the home owner and the police department.It wasted everyones time.It made the cop look power mad.the good thing is It draws attention to a real problem in America “police need better training not war on drugs/citizens training”They tazer/kill people for misdemeanors or less.They don’t even know the laws that they suppose to abide by.They treat people guilty until they go to court.They lie and cover up each others abuse.They have a mafia mentality.People no longer see the police as help but instead trouble.They no longer deserve respect they deserve contempt till they get the stupids out of the system.They should be tried for the crimes they commit and punished more severely because he is walking around with deadly weapons and should better trained on when to use them, instead of the shoot first mind set.To the people of the US “the cops have become the bad guys” and that is sad.
Once you work for the "governent" – either as an elected official or as an employee – you belong to a club whose primary motivation is to protect itself against outsiders. That is why people who campaign on ideals such as "term limits" never support legislation to enact term limits, etc.
I have always told my children to assume that the police are not your friends. If you allow yourself to be convinced that cops are "on your side" you might say something that they can and will use against you. It is the nature of the Beast to protect itself. The distinquished professor knew this and joined the fray. It's unfortunate stupidity on both sides.
Once you work for the "government" – either as an elected official or as an employee – you belong to a club whose primary motivation is to protect itself against outsiders. That is why people who campaign on ideals such as "term limits" never support legislation to enact term limits, etc.
I have always told my children to assume that the police are not your friends. If you allow yourself to be convinced that cops are "on your side" you might say something that they can and will use against you. It is the nature of the Beast to protect itself. The distinquished professor knew this and joined the fray. It's unfortunate stupidity on both sides.
My husband was a P.O. for 9 years, made a lot of arrests, never had a complaint filed against him because he treated people with respect, even if they were giving him a hard time. His personal policy was to always diffuse situations like this. If my husband had been the P.O.in this situation with the professor, even if the professor had been swearing at him, he would have told him to calm down, and even offered to help him get a locksmith and wait for the locksmith to arrive.Its called common sense, its called discretion. Once he arrested an A.A. for shoplifting, the suspect called him a racist. My husband said "you just say that because I'm white,but I actually have evidence (for shoplifting)." Very calm demeanor dealing with the suspect. He said "I'm on baseball teams and basketball teams and I get along fine with black people, have them over to my house, and I don't appreciate you making these types of accusations." guess what, the offender apologized. Said "oh, sorry man".
Of course, officers NEVER lie about what they type up in incident reports.
Well considering I am also a police officer…. I believe I do know the law. He had probable cause to believe there was a burglery in progress and responded correctly for the scene, if Gates did not like it he could have solved it a whole lot faster by PROPERLY identifying himself and this whole situation wouldn't exist.
You had me up until "mouth-breather." That's just rude.
At least in New York, we have NYS Criminal Code 240.26 — harassment in the second degree. What he did appears to constitute a crime. You believing something is not a crime, or thinking it should not be a crime, does not make it so. He is lucky the Police Department was gracious enough to suggest dropping the charges, though he probably would have been able to get off on a technicality nonetheless.
I would also suggest you read the police report, which I have not heard Mr. Gates publicly dispute the facts of. His nature appears immediately accusatory. He operates on his own expectations of racial bias, and he instigated and escalated. Furthermore, the Officer was simply doing his job. I do not understand why you think the Officer should then be apologetic and remorseful — he should simply leave, which he did. Mr. Gates followed the Officer out of the house yelling at him.
I do not dispute that we have a problem in this country with abuse of power by the Police, and I do not dispute that racial profiling and racially motivated harassment occurs far too frequently. What I object to, is any suggestion that this incident exemplifies either. A wealthy scholar from an elite New England University acted entitled and pompous, and was then yelled at an Officer repeatedly and made a scene in public. There was at least a reasonable belief in the Officer's mind that what Gates was doing constituted breaking the law. He got arrested. That's what happens. Could the Officer have not arrested him? Sure. But could Gates have at any point acted like a normal person who was simply being asked to identify himself as the owner of the property that might be being burglarized, sure as well.
If you want to make an interesting argument — at least note that while it may not have been the reality of the situation, Mr. Gates felt that race was an issue. Black men everywhere may have a similar sentiment in many circumstances. Perhaps this is an issue we need to discuss as a society, the injection of race or perception of race being an issue, due to over sensitivity, or the existence of long scarred over wounds that have never properly healed.
It's obvious gates mouthed off , he is not the angel he claims to be on the CNN interviews.
Immediately played the race card to cover for his big mouth.
As soldiers, some of us carry cameras on our helmets , to not only to feed back to command/training/ future training, but also to cover our tails.
Hope Police will one day carry equipment like this so loud mouth like gates can be put in jail and not on CNN.
You don't now, nor ever will understand anything about being black, ignorant guy. Being a drug using hippy doesn't clue you in, sorry… try again.
You sound like every other cop hater. Ready to give his two cents about how bad police are until you actually need the assistance of one yourself.
Wow, this guy is unbelievable. It seems like the racism was definitely on Gate's part. He instantly starts screaming racism and yelling at the cop. Nice job pulling out the race card too early there, buddy. That guy is a joke. From the police report and witness statements, the cop was in the right. Why would you not want to show a cop you live in a house that was just reported to the police that someone broke into? Wouldn't you want to thank the cop for checking on his house? Not Gates, the biggest racist a**hole of the century. Then Obama like an idiot said the cops acted stupidly? For doing their job? The cops didn't bust down the door with guns blazing, they acted professional and did their job the way they should. We need more cops like him. I would hope that if someone, even me, was trying to break into my house, I would want the cops to show up and ask for IDs. But no, that is too much for Gates, because he is a black man and it's instantly racist. I don't think any of his colleagues at Harvard will go near this with a hundred foot pole, because I am sure they see Gates on the losing side of this. I hope Harvard gets rid of this guy, because he is smearing the Harvard image as hiring racist professors that pollute the young minds with hatred and bullsh**.
You need more training on the law. I agree that Gates would not have been arrested if he was cooperative. However, that's not the point — the Contitution protects the uncooperative in many cases. The point is Gates would not have been arrested if the officer followed the law.
We can argue about probable cause for burglary, but doing so only proves that you are missing the real problem. The charge of "Disorderly Conduct," in Massachusetts, requires unruly behavior likely to set off wider unrest. M.G.L. 272-53. Gates behavior did not satisfy the requirements of the change, which is why the DA quickly dropped the case, and why the officer should apologize for violating Gates' constrtutional rights.
WRONG.
"Gates accused the officer who arrested him at his Cambridge home of having a 'broad imagination' when he summarized last Thursday's confrontation in police reports, and he denied making several inflammatory remarks."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/20...
What's more plausible, a renowned, respected, and by all accounts cordial professor of black issues in America telling a cop that he'd "talk to his mama" outside, or a cop embellishing on his bogus disorderly conduct arrest to make it look warranted? (PSST: It's the second one.) I relish proving opinionated people wrong. I absolutely love it.
Who wrote that report? It was the guy who arrested Gates. Is it possible that the report is not entirely factual? I think this should go to court, so that we can uncover the truth as corroborated by recording devices / other cops. Oh, and you seem to imply that refusing to cooperate is a crime. It is when the cop makes a legal demand upon a citizen. It is NOT when the cop is just trying to assuage his ego. Exactly which law says that we all have to be little bitches when the police ask us anything? After Gates ID'ed himself (which he did, that isn't a point of contest), the cop had no right to even be on his property. Sure, Gates could have made things easier by being a little more polite. Still, being rude is not a crime.
To quote OP: "There was at least a reasonable belief in the Officer's mind that what Gates was doing constituted breaking the law."
Reasonable belief? Doubt it — unless the cop was woefully uninformed about the law, or just (to borrow a word) stupid.
The bigger issue is the reasonable belief of a cop does not make a valid arrest. The law does, and this cop did not follow the law. Even under the facts of his undoubtedly embellished police report, the cop loses.
Actually, you don't know what happened. You know what the officer reported happened. I really don't think that it was racially motivated. I think that the cop picked on the wrong person to screw with. It's a question of respect… and a lack of respect that officers have for the people they are supposed to be protecting. There was nothing wrong with the neighbor calling the police. And there was nothing wrong with them showing up. Gates said as much in interviews since. The problem was that after it was clearly established that this whole thing was a false alarm the officer felt that Gates needed to learn his lesson. The police aren't there to do that. Officer's get crap and they have to deal with it. There is a clear line between getting crap and "disorderly conduct". There was no threat to the officer or others by gates. The officer just had his feeling's hurt.
I've been in similar situations… and after the officers have established that it was a false alarm they treated me with respect and let me on my way. And I thanked them for doing their job. It actually happens… and I hope this guy learns his lesson.
OR ELSE.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0...
respect the citizen of a free country
you would think a vet. cop would know that there is not a whole lot of 58 year old cane weilding b and e specialists working the Harvard campuss
Actually, you don't know what happened. You know what the officer reported happened. I really don't think that it was racially motivated. I think that the cop picked on the wrong person to screw with. It's a question of respect… and a lack of respect that officers have for the people they are supposed to be protecting. There was nothing wrong with the neighbor calling the police. And there was nothing wrong with them showing up. Gates said as much in interviews since. The problem was that after it was clearly established that this whole thing was a false alarm the officer felt that Gates needed to learn his lesson. The police aren't there to do that. Officer's get crap and they have to deal with it. There is a clear line between getting crap and "disorderly conduct". There was no threat to the officer or others by gates. The officer just had his feeling's hurt.
The police report is one side of the story- Mr Gates' story is the other – i believe there are other witnesses too. Police are not required to be impartial in police reports, they will leave anything out that makes them look bad or constitutes a crime committed by themselves etc. Both parties allege that the other repeatedly refused to provide their ID. The police officer should ID himself first as he's relying on those credentials to make demands of the private citizen.
This makes me want to put up a hidden camera in my car in case I get a ticket. I'll ask for badge# and say I want to file a complaint and see what happens.
It is disheartening to see how many of the people commenting have entirely missed the point. It doesn't matter if Dr. Gates was nasty to the poor little cop. (The guy who has a gun…) Last I checked, it is NOT a crime to be rude to a cop in your own home. I have seen absolutely no indication that Gates was physically threatening to the cop or verbally threatened any physical violence. I have seen no report that he tried to prevent the cop from leaving. So the cop, once he ascertained that Gates was in his own home, should have said "have a nice day" and LEFT. He could have gone back to the station and told all his buddies what a big jerk he thought Gates had been, and that would be that.
I am supportive of the police when they are right. But sometimes, they do the wrong things. They break down the doors to the wrong peoples' homes, they shoot and sometimes kill the wrong people (both of which have happened here in Denver) and sometimes they arrest without cause because the person pissed them off. Recently in Denver an officer was disciplined for pulling his gun at a McDonalds drive thru window because he didn't think the service was fast enough. Cops are sometimes just plain wrong, and when they are wrong they should admit it.Attempting damage control and insisting you are right when you aren't just eats away at your credibility. This is true whether you are the cop on the beat or the ex vice president who keeps insisting that torture is okey dokey because it "works."
If you let the police get away with anything and everything they will. And when they come for you, everybody else will just think YOU are the one in the wrong and keep moving. Wake up, people. You are indeed inviting a police state.
Once Gates presented this asshole with credentials verifying his identity and residency, this little episode should have been over. Had this white flatfoot left the residence at that moment, he likely would not have heard what a low-brow, knuckle-dragging, idiot asshole ALL cops are from an angry black man legally standing in his own livingroom! But, this dickweed stuck around just long enough to get his feelings hurt. Why? Because a badge and a gun afforded this bitch the privilege of needlessly harrassing a man! Even after Skip produced a work ID and a drivers licence, this asswipe dicked around, flexing his badge, trying to prove his authority. Skip's obnoxiously loud demands for this idiot's identity and badge number were anything but disorderly conduct. Gates was exercising his CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS!!! This ignorant pig gives all cops a bad name!
Police State? Quit being such a sissy.
Did Gates suffer any injuries? Nope. The sum total of this "injustice" was that Mr Gates had to quit being a douche-nozzle. Find the right to be a douche in the Bill of Rights.
The police report tells only the officer's side of the story. Dr. Gates has told a different story. No doubt the truth lies in the middle.
Bottom line: A 58-year-old white man who walks with a cane and is inside his own, upscale home would not treated like some common house burglar. I don't blame him for being pissed off. And being pissed off is not a crime in this country — at least not yet.
Since when was "causing a scene" and "being an asshole" grounds for being arrested?
Sounds like yet another cop on a power trip, arresting people for not showing him proper deference.
FUCK the POLICE!!!!
Gates is a citizen in the United States of America, protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights!
That jackoff bitch cop was WRONG!!!! No one gives a damn about his being pissy because Skip called him out for what he was: a bigoted, ignorant, arrogant little bitch protected from justice by virtue of a white skin, a gun, and a badge. This bitch knows good and damned well that had Skip been a fair skinned, blond haired, blue eyed white man speaking with an English accent, he wouldn't have even asked for his credentials.
Respect is earned, not coerced with a gun and a badge. That prick was not serving and protecting. He was steeping Cambridge neck-deep in a colossal lawsuit.
If these witnesses are credible, and that's a huge 'if' from a legal standpoint, why didn't Officer Dickweed better control the crime scene? This was a private residence into which some perp had broken in, not a public place as errantly described in the bogus police account. Why were people permitted to traipse through a private residence during a criminal investigation? Gates was inside his home when the cops arrived to investigate the reported robbery IN PROGRESS. If these nosey ass neighbors were that concerned about the professor's home and safety, surely one of them was able to ID Skip. Since Officer Dickweed errantly allowed them inside the man's house, why wasn't Skip's ID confirmed before he was drawn outside his house to be publicly arrested?
I live with the consolation that before this case goes to trial, and it's going to trail, Cambridge Police IAD will investigate both sides of this, punching plenty of holes in Officer Dickweed's incredulous account before giving him the ultamatum of resignation or termination.
Controversial history?
What's so damned controversial aboutan erudite black scholar from one of the finest institutions of higher learning on planet Earth devoting his life and studies to the improvement of humand and civil rights?
And, for the record, POLICE OFFICERS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS! No one gives a damn about their getting pissed off that some scholar who passed higher math in high school is now making more money than they are, even when you include the graft a good number of them are taking. Their obligation to the public trust is a knowedge and just enforcement of the law, not their abuse of their entrusted authority because they have badges, batons, tasers, and guns!
Uh, define the following: anti-police bigotry, and harrassment, please!
Look, after Skip produced credentials to verify his identity and prove his legitimate residency, why on earth did Officer Numbnuts stand around the livingroom, jaw-jacking and thumbing his balls anyway? Why didn't he just say 'have a nice day,' leave Skip's house, and run the professor down as an overwrought ass at the station house or at the bar with the boys off the clock? Once this asswipe knew Skip's only crime was having jimmied open his own front door, which is not prosecutable, he should have left. Skip had plenty of liquor in the cabinets with which to calm himself down. He didn't need some asshole with a badge standing around there pointing out that he was tired and vexed by these trite and sanctimonious requests to calm down. Furthermore, at that point, Numbnuts was legally intruding and treaspassing, as he had no plausible cause for still being there.
Yes, The professor should have been given a name and badge #. Just as the police had the right to demand Identification so did the citizen. The issue is that police don't think they have to follow the law. They both should have cooperated with the law. I don't hear the media etc. discussing the issue of us regular citizens demanding badge #s.
Yes, the USA is currently a POLICE STATE, thanks in full to Administration43 signing off on two Patriot Acts that have absolutely nothing to do with patriotism or freedom. It was all about restricting out civil liberties and human rights to control the masses. It granted this asshole the right to violate the Bill of Rights on the retalliatory whim of hurt feelings.
Had white Officer Douche Nozzle just professionally left the premises upon discovering that this freed black professor had his all Freedom paperwork in legitimate order, this all could have been avoided. Gates' standing in his own livingroom, loudly demanding this asswipe's name and badge number was not a criminal act of disorderly conduct or even prosecutable verbal assault on an intrusive asshole abusing his law enforcement authority. And, yes, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights support Gates, despite all Dumya and Dick Vader's best efforts to guarantee otherwise. No one has to kiss any cop's ass, just to make an encounter go more smoothly. Cops are accountable to the public as PUBLIC SERVANTS! Any time cops get out of line, they too need to be checked and publicly corrected.
"…He played the race card even though this clown has claimed in taped interviews that he is 58% genetically white…."
What does that have to do with anything? And, correction: Skip Gates is literally a GENIUS, unlike Officer Numbskull the egomaniacal blunder who BROKE THE LAW HE VOWED TO UPHOLD AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. This jack-booted, goose-stepping fascist pinhead managed to hang around TREASPASSING long enough to get his feelings hurt by an erudite black resident of an affluent neighborhood in front of the neighbors. So, he petulently arrested Skip to save his reputation. And, that's going to be come back to bite him in the butt. This cop was the real idiot here.
What we do know is that Skip did produce both his faculty ID and his drivers licence. These not only established his residency, but also reasonable ties to the community. Once these were verfied, the Officer had no plausible reason for remaining on the premises. Any time law enforcement is on private property, i.e. in a person's home, that resident has the right to demand and RECEIVE verification of identity, replete with badge number. When Skip demanded these, Officer Numbnuts drew him out to the front proch where he publicly cuffed him for Skip's less than flattering exercise of free expression. Well, now, look, had Officer Numbnuts left the premises upon verifying Skip's identity and residency, instead of standing around in the way, interfering with Skip's freedom and conduct in the privacy of his home, perhaps the white officer would not have heard the black man go off on what colossal gaping assholes all cops can be when they dare to presume more authority than the Barney Fife School of Police Buffooonery affords them.
The point is Skip did show the cop both his faculty ID and his drivers licnece. And, that asshole refused to leave the premises, though identity and residency had been verified. Why couldn't that asshole have backed off, and left the professor alone? This prick now wants to play victim, claiming the professor is slamming down the race card. Well, why this idiot didn't give the Harvard professor the benefit of the doubt, especially after he produced the requested credentials? When Skip asked the cop for his name and badge number, if this prick had nothing to hide or was confident he had done nothing wrong, why didn't he act in accordance with the law? A cop is required to identify himself by name and badge number, unless he's got a judge signed warrant for arrest, a document that will state both. Look, at what point should cops ease the hell back, and not treat the public they encounter as criminal perpetrators in close keeping with the dubious stereotypes wrecklessly perpetuated by the infotainment propagandists in our failed forth estate?
an "investigative reporter" would have dug up more facts before writing this half baked and biased article.
stop the nonsense!
and furthermore…
regarding your book, "The Case for Impeachment"
i still think it is a bit too soon to consider removing obama from office
Lets see now. The Officers report. Ever hear of a police report that wasn't honest or was a cover up? You haven't ? You've been living under a rock for too long.
Ever hear of a cop that was abusive? You haven't? You've been living under a rock for too long.
Have none of you heard the Professor's side of the story? You haven't ? why don't you listen to it? First you'll have to crawl out from under your rock.
I have been the victim of police abusiveness. It happens. Get a grip. From what I have read there were only two people in that house. And they have different stories. The policeman did state that the Professor did show his Drivers license. That sould have been the end of it. I wasn't. Why not?
Here is an incident that occurred to me on Interstate 70 a few weeks back. I've written a letter and sent it to the chief of police of the city of Troy, Illinois. Alas, I have heard nothing from the police chief. Yesterday I spoke with the editor of the Troy Times Gazette. This editor is going to speak with the police chief and ask him several questions……..
Chief Robert A. Rizzi, Jr. July 6, 2009
Troy Police Department
116 East Market Street
Troy, Illinois 62294
Chief Rizzi, I am writing this letter to inform you of violations of my Constitutional rights that I suffered by the actions of two of your police officers. I was traveling eastbound on Interstate 70, on Friday morning, June 26th, at approximately 11 am, when a Troy police cruiser suddenly entered traffic from the center median and proceeded to follow me. Traffic was heavy, weather was clear, and I was wearing my seat belt and driving within the required speed limit. The two officers followed me for more than a minute and then their lights began spinning and we both came to a stop along the highway shoulder area. The officer seated on the passenger side left his vehicle and spoke to me through my passenger’s window, asking me for my drivers license. I asked him what was the reason I was being detained. He told me that the trailer hitch on my rear bumper is obscuring my license plate, making it very difficult to read. I was extremely surprised by this probable cause that the officer gave that should lead to my being stopped on this highway, but I produced my drivers license and he retreated to his vehicle. I have included a photograph of my license plate w/trailer hitch so that you can better understand what your police officer was looking at and consider his reasoning. I do not know the name of this individual, nor his partner. They were dressed identically, wearing casual gray short-sleeved jerseys with the Troy Police logo screened on the left breast, beige kaki trousers, no name tags, and they looked very much like weekend golfers except for their utility belts which held radios, taser guns, handcuffs, and what appeared to be Glock .45 automatics, but if there were badges or name tags, I never saw these. I will refer to the driver as Officer Blond, because he was a clean shaven fellow, in his late 30’s, with dark blond hair, and his partner, I will refer to as Officer Brown, who had brown hair, a mustache, and was perhaps in his early 40’s.
Both officers sat in their car, checking my credentials, for quite a long time, which was more than ten minutes. Officer Brown returned to my vehicle, passenger side, and informed me that the computers at the NCIC appeared to be malfunctioning, and he wasn’t getting a clear enough reading of my status. But then, he must have received some information, because he asked me who Thomas Spivak is and if I am living with an alias of some sort. I informed him that Spivak was the name of my father, a man I never knew, and I legally changed my name to Hyland, which was my mother’s maiden name, and I did that almost thirty years ago. I received my first drivers license in New Mexico, in 1970, when I was fourteen years old, and at the time, my last name was still Spivak. I truly believe that Officer Brown had a full description of my lawful status on his computer, that there was nothing of any problem upon my records, but he wanted to feign further reasons to detain me longer. Officer Brown asked me to step out of my vehicle so that he may conduct a search. I do not have a recording of the conversation, but will, to the best of my ability, recall for you what was spoken between us…
I have received a notice that my comment is too long. I'm going to post the rest of this in another box or two.
Hyland: “Why do you want to search my vehicle?”
Brown: “Oh, you know, just do a little look around, see if you’re carrying anything illegal, weapons, that kind of thing. Won’t take but a couple of minutes. It wouldn’t be a problem if you had a small, little amount of drugs, but I just want to take a little look around.”
Hyland: “Why on earth do you want to search my car?? I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t harm anybody, there’s no injury to private or public property here. I’m not speeding. I haven’t done anything wrong. DO YOU HAVE A WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE??”
Brown: “No, I don’t. And I don’t need one. Are you giving me consent to search your car?”
Hyland: “NO… I’m not giving you CONSENT to search my car! Why would I let you search my car if I haven’t done anything wrong?? The only reason I’m being detained is because you don’t like my trailer hitch!!”
Brown: “Listen, if you don’t give me consent, then I will call in the drug dogs and they’re going to search your vehicle!”
Hyland: “You don’t have a signed warrant, from a judge, allowing you, or the dogs, to search my car. This whole thing could take hours… I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Brown: “The fact that you are not allowing me to search the car is all the more reason, and that’s all the reason I need to search the car. By not giving me consent to conduct the search, I now have all the permission I need. Are you going to give me consent to search?
Hyland: “NO!! I’m not giving you CONSENT! So, go ahead and search the car.”
Brown: “Are you giving me CONSENT??”
Hyland: “No, I’m not giving you consent. I don’t WANT you to search my car! (I was laughing at this point. I could see that this word CONSENT was very important to him. And it is a legal phrase, invented by your attorney, that would dissolve the officers and your police department of all responsibility, if I would simply comply and agree to utter the phrase “consent.” I continued to speak with reason, and humor, and a great amount of patience, while I attempted to express this very human situation that I found myself in. I am not going to “consent”, but I am telling him to just go ahead and search the car, because he is going to do it anyway, in total disregard to the 6th Amendment to the Constitution.) But go ahead and search it… okay??”
Brown: “Do I have your consent to search the vehicle?”
Hyland: “NO!! (laughing) Go ahead and search the vehicle.”
I stood outside my truck, next to Officer Blond, while Officer Brown proceeded to investigate. While this search took place, I told Officer Blond that I am a student of law, the Constitution, and that I know quite a lot regarding the lawful implications of the ownership of cars, private property, our Constitutional Rights, and just why this very incident is taking place on this highway at the moment. Officer Blond was listening very carefully as I described the very strange activity that every American faces when we purchase our cars. What happens is this… if you purchase a brand new car, and you pay its price entirely, without any financing with a bank or whomever, you are handed the perfect title to the car… the Title of Origin, or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin, or MSO. The unsuspecting owner now goes to his nearest Motor Vehicle Department office, hands over the MSO in exchange for a Certificate of Title, fabricated by the Department of Taxation and Revenue, and now the state OWNS YOUR CAR in a commercial privilege called “driving” which is the transportation of goods or paying passengers for a living. If you go to your computer, go to Google, type in Tom Hyland, and my name will appear on page one, if not at the top, very close to the top. Click onto Tom Hyland Story and read an article I wrote, about two years ago, which was printed in two parts, and published in a local Santa Fe, New Mexico newspaper. The entire article is printed there, and it explains in explicit detail the very devious, complicated, and unfortunate circumstances that have enveloped our nation, and caused us to become mere paupers in a land where blood was shed so that we could be free.
Officer Brown finished his search and, finding nothing of any interest to him, concluded that I was free to continue my travels. I asked these men if they could spare a few minutes for a very brief history lesson. They agreed to stand by while I fetched a few printed words that I was carrying in my car. I have included them here for you to read for yourself. The first document is a page from Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary, the very first edition of that book. I explained to Officers Brown and Blond that the first Webster’s was compiled with great haste, because time was simply running out. There was a need to compile a dictionary that would contain the meanings to words, as they were understood, by people who lived when our Constitution was written. The meanings to words shift and change as years go by, and it was imperative that there would be a permanent record of the relevant meanings, so that these words could be reviewed forever, or as long as this nation survives. To this day, every Supreme Court justice has a copy of the Webster’s 1828 nearby, so that they can comprehend with a fuller understanding the meanings of words, as they were perceived at the genesis of this nation, while they comprehend issues of Constitutional import.
Read very carefully the word ALLODIUM. I have circled it with a colored pencil. This to me, is the most important word in that dictionary. This allodium is why we fought the Revolutionary War. And, this word no longer exists. It is no mistake that the word disappeared, because it was a status that was stolen away from us through the very careful deceptions and trickery of bankers, attorneys, and corrupt elected officials. The other document I have included here is from the 73rd Congress, 1st Session, Senate Document No. 43, adopted as Senate Resolution No. 62, on April 24, 1933. Franklin Roosevelt became the 32nd president on March 4, 1933. On March 9th, he declared the United States bankrupt, by and through Executive Order Nos. 6073, 6102, 6111, and 6260. March 9th was the very same day that the gold standard ended. On that day, our money became very much like confetti, it was illegal to own gold, and the bankrupt United States was handed over to the Federal Reserve, a privately owned bank, and our nation has been forever held in receivership by that corporation. I have circled an item from page 9 of that document from 1933, in which it is declared that We The People OWN NOTHING. I read to Officers Brown and Blond where America began, and where it ended. I explained to them that I do not own this car, it is owned by the State of New Mexico. I may sell the car to another user, but he won’t ever be able to actually own the car either. I told these men that after 5 o’clock, when they are driving home in the cars they cannot own they will arrive at the houses they will never own either. And, I told them they don’t even own the clothes they are wearing, because if they paid for these clothes with Federal Reserve Notes, those notes don’t actually discharge a debt, but only compounds it. Officers Brown and Blond were very quiet. I then explained to Officer Brown that this is very sorry state of affairs regarding how he has conducted himself this day. I told him that I was stopped, detained, and searched, because he didn’t like my trailer hitch, and I told him that was a very weak probable cause. And that he did this with a total disregard for my 6th Amendment rights. Here for your review is the 6th Amendment: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Officers Brown and Blond were silent. They stood there looking at me and at themselves. Neither man issued me a ticket or a warning, for anything. They were amused that my old Mazda pick up truck was approaching 500,000 miles, and they asked me if I was going to write a letter to the Mazda company when that moment transpired. I told them, “No way… they would probably push some big red button on their desk and my truck would explode! How did this one get away?? Go buy yourself another truck, you jerk!!” The officers reacted to this comment with great laughter, they waved good bye to me, and drove away.
I was reading the Troy City police page, on the internet, and this is how I obtained your name and address. This web page says that you have 18 sworn officers, and 6 civilian personnel. I can only presume that these officers have sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. As the chief of police, you have taken that same oath. This Constitution is a promise to protect my rights and it is the basic reason why the Constitution exists. It is common human nature to want to do a good job, whatever it is we busy ourselves with. The founding fathers knew this very well. And they understood that people who gravitate towards a career in law, politics, government, or police work… want to do a good job. What government people do, what gives them a feeling of worth and accomplishment, is that they control. And thus, the Constitution exists, to protect We The People from over reaching, over zealous, unlawful control. Here are some words from George Washington… “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troubling servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” The essential nature of a Republic, is that laws are written. That is the definition of our lawfulness and authority. When laws are unwritten, when judges and attorneys and cops start winging it… just start making it up as they go along, and disregard their oath, then that is called anarchy.
This is what I want from you, Chief Rizzi. I want a written apology which states you understand the gravity of what happened to me on Interstate 70, on June 26th. I want an apology for what happened to me, at the hands of your irresponsible, arrogant, and deeply ignorant officers. I want to hear back from you that you have had a thorough conversation with the officers regarding this incident, an incident that I am sure they will not forget easily, and that these officers understand clearly that if they intend to serve We The People, that it will be with a strict and abiding respect to their oaths, to the Constitution, and to protect my Right to live free, and responsible, harming no one, as has been my conduct throughout my adult life. Our nation has been chipped away, eroded almost beyond recognition. Can we please have our police officers protect what little is left, instead of deliberately adding to the decay… to the death of America?
Hello Mr. Lindorff. Is it possible to file reader's commentary in chronological order?
US is police state and you have the same situation now that Eastern Europe countries had during the communist period when police officer was like a god. Police officer was respected and scared of at the same time. And he could take you to jail because of the wrong word you said, or because he had argue with his wife that day and want to take revenge on someone. It's funny, but no one is scared of police officer here anymore and, at the same time, you are becoming dictatorship that you were scared of (at least in media).
This is a bit complicated as there are two sides to any question. I spent 25 years in the fire service, many of them rolling in our ambulance or rescue rig. One quickly learns to always keep your cool, be polite and considerate, but firm if necessary. We took bad trips, psychotics, victims of domestic fights, along with accident victims, fire victims, etc. One of the things I taught my crews is to never reify your patient, never treat them as a "thing," but rather as a human being, whom you are trying to help. This often defused dangerous situations or turned a raging, foaming, "madman" into a quieter, reasoning and often cooperative person.
Most of our cops subscribed to this philosophy also, but occasionally they would get one who didn't. We had one cop who always wore black, loaded, leather gloves, which seemed a bit strange. He was the one who often "discovered" mugged drunks in an alley, whom we took to the hospital.
One day, one of our local and well known "crazies" went into orbit and the cops were called, along with us. The cops had tackled her and cuffed her and she was identifying their species and origins with great vigor. When we arrived, we determined that she needed to be restrained on the gurney. We had the cops remove the cuffs, calmed her down a bit and got her strapped onto the gurney in a sitting position. As we were loading the gurney into the ambulance, she spotted the cop in question, called him a name and spit on him. He stepped forward and smashed her in the face with his gloved fist. The attendant was outraged and filed a report with the PD. He "resigned" from the force and went to another department. In my opinion, he should have been barred from any law enforcement position, but lateral transfers are common in PD's.
To sum up, there are rotten apples in any barrel, and they should be removed before they rot the whole barrel, but there are also dedicated, caring, people in the various emergency services who do a superb job and endure a lot of grief and abuse without reacting to it. Let's not tar everybody with the same brush.
As I said in my earlier comment:
There were two people in the house, the Policeman and Mr. Gates. They have different stories. The only comments they agreed on that I heard from the two of them ( Not from media or people who commented ) was 1) that Gates did show his drivers license as requested, and 2) that the officer asked Mr. Gates to step outside the house after he had seen the proof that Gates was the inhabitant of the house.
That is why the arrest of Mr. Gates was indeed a stupid move.
And I agree with Hyman – Why can't these comments be placed in chronological order? They used to be so ordered – what has changed?
Reading all this reminds me of one of our duties in the Fire Service. Lockouts. (One was a young airline stewardess who was sunbathing in the nude when the wind blew the door shut
) One of the things we used to do was have the person describe something in the house, say a desk or a dresser, or mail in a hall table, that had their name on it. When we got in, we would check the description, find the desk, open the drawer that had the described document in it (say an addressed envelope). That sufficed as proof and the person was allowed in the home.
Comon sense and tact will go far, even in this mad world we inhabit today.
What is not reported is that it is common for Cambridge police to take their badges off. I had experienced that some 30 years ago at my office. It is also common knowledge in Cambridge that if you ask for their badge number the officers will escalate the arrest.
"…given that a neighbor had allegedly called 911 to report seeing two black men she thought were breaking into the house."
The caller did not mention race until pressed by the 911 dispatcher. And at that, she was unsure.
Black civil rights leaders are the most racist peoples on the face of the Earth, par none.
Those in the United States, at least…
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation
Since you asked Dipshit.
BTW thats the 4th amendment, since you obviously don't know your ass from an amendment in the Constitution.
"Did Gates suffer any injuries? Nope."
Wrong ass wipe. In this country a Man's home is his Castle. When you become a man, you will realize the injury Mr. Gates suffered.
Was Mr. Gates a Doushbag? Maybe, maybe not, but even if he was that is his right in HIS FUCKING HOME.
Lets not forget in our rush to defend the legions of brave MF'ers that run towards the gunfire, confront the scumbags of everyday life, and in general protect and defend the glorious freedoms we luxuriate in dialy, that their ranks are drawn from the jocks and bullies that we went to high school with. Most of them have, as most of us have, learned, adapted, and mellowed with age, some carry their prejudices on their shoulders daily.
Separating the two is the key, and is in no way easy.
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