Unless you’ve been living under a rock, by now you’ve no doubt heard about the arrest several weeks ago of Henry Louis Gates inside his home by Cambridge Police Sergeant James Crowley. Without adding my own two cents on the circumstances surrounding the arrest, I do want to comment on President Barack Obama remarks at a recent press conference that police acted “stupidly” in the arrest of prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.
While I certainly appreciate that President Obama is viewing this situation from his own perspective, based on his own life experiences, I disagree with the president’s assertion that police acted “stupidly” in the arrest of Gates. Often, the police intervene during situations that are very dynamic and can go from good to bad in the blink of an eye, and while I don’t know all the details of the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr., I do believe Sgt. Crowley acted well within his authority as a police officer in arresting Gates for disorderly conduct. What’s more, it’s important to note another Sergeant (who happens to be African-American) present at the time of the arrest agreed with Sgt. Crowley’s decision to effect the arrest.
There’s no doubt that while our nation has made tremendous progress when it comes to race relations, we still have a long way to go. President Obama was wrong for saying police acted “stupidly” in the Gates arrest without knowing all the facts of the situation, and he would have been better off reserving comment until he had all the facts of the situation.
There is a large segment of the police who are idealistic and humanistic, believing in protecting in a manner that they were called to servcie. I was named after a cop like that [the first Latino police captain in Aurora,IL … different story … or my uncle the first Latino cop in Aurora]. The point is it’s all about respect for them, they respected those whom they encounter and it was given in return. Even violent criminals respected these guys [again a different story].
But your commentary is uninformed, in fact it’s embarassing. There is among cops an unoffcial rule that you back up fellow officers unless they cross the line, like beating on someone or some such over-the-top action. Don’t you know this? A cop fucks up and the blue team protects.
There is also prevalant an imperial attitutde that too many cops, self-selecting to become police, possess and which Crawley is but one example. Your citing “another Sergeant” backing up a responding officer is SOP and is no surprise. And you think this is “important to note.” What do you think the repercussions would be for the cop’s career you cite if he backs up Gates? Are you kidding?
Ask any cop you know well or better yet any defence attys. Dershowitz calls the rule cops have to make up lies in defense of their actions or that of their fellow officers: “Testilying.” Your column displays no conception of this fact of life of the criminal justice system. Have you ever even heard of “testilying”: Cops lying under oath?
Your assertion that a cop is ‘well within his authority” is absurd. Crawley knows Gates is in his own home, and instead of using discretion and intelligence [not popular among the imperial police], he arrests Gates for the go-to charge of disorderly conduct. Alright, if the cop acted properly for giving Gates a disorderly conduct citation, why was the citation summarily dismissed? Anwser is the ticket has no merit, and Gates would kick the shit of this bullshit charge that Crawley made up.
I’m guessing that you have never been ticketed or profiled for being brown or black; you’re white, right?
It’s uninformed commentary as your’s that demonstrates that we “still have a long way to go.”
And by the way your silly statement “our nation has made tremendous progress when it comes to race relations” is banal crap. Black civil rights activists and their allies demanded their rights [often getting murdered and beaten in the process] and won enforcement of their rights, a partial victory that your column demonstrates might never be won in this country.
Finally, hey, have you ever noticed how “dark” one side of the 27th street viaduct is, to quote the description made to me two nights ago at a north-side bar? Wake up.
Michael, I’d argue it’s commentary like yours that shows we still have a long way to go.
I never said race relations in this nation were perfect; I’m not that naive. However, you’ve clearly demonstrated that it cuts both ways.
Right, it cuts both ways. Dsicrimination against white is equal to that of blacks and brown.
Are you an infant?
Michael, I’m fond of name calling. Typically though, I get it from conservatives. Ah well.
Are you white?
Have you been profiled and stopped?
Have you heard of“testilying”?
Do you believe in the “blue wall of silence”?
You seem to be thriving on not knowing the existance of testilying and the blue wall of silence. and standing proud in your ignorance of this reality. Rush and Bill would be impressed.
Do these questions merit anwsers in your mind? Evidentally, they don’t merit consideration in your prose.
I am white.
I’ve heard of officers lying under oath, but I’ve also heard of officers actually telling the truth under oath as well.
I’ve heard of the “blue wall of silence,” and no, I don’t believe in it. I strongly believe that officers should never cover for other officers who’ve committed crimes or acted outside the color of law, and I say that as someone who works in law enforcement.
ANd to think that I didn’t think Zach’s post was all that provocative.
Jason, you thought wrong…
If the officer did the right thing, why were the charges dismissed?
There is no law against being rude to the police in your own home, it’s a free speech issue. (Of course, I think that Gates jumped to conclusions and should have been polite, but there’s no law that compels him to do so and his right to be rude is protected by the US Constitution).
From MAL’s blog…”If you are brown or black, the news that Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr was arrested for trying to enter his own home was repulsive but not unexpected.”
Now…that commentary is misinformed. Why no mention of the 911 call? Why no mention of Professor Gates getting irate at the police and causing a scene according to citizens who were just walking by?? I suppose it was a conspiracy…the 911 caller…the cops…and the citizens walking by were all in on it.
More from MAL’s blog….”Update II: If anybody feels like raining on the unapologetic little prick, Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department, call: 617-349-3300.”
Pretty obvious who the one with the problem is…
Anon, I don’t think Mal has a problem; he’s simply speaking his mind based on his own experiences and beliefs. While I do take issue with Mal’s propensity for name calling as a means of “debate,” he’s certainly free to express his opinion however he sees fit.
As am I…hopefully…and I think this guy (MAL) has a “problem” with cops.
I’m getting just a little tired of people perpetuating all this racial divide from both sides. I don’t want to see any cops getting hurt out there because President Obama has undermined them by going on national TV saying they are acting “stupidly” and are racially profiling.
A problem? In fact, anon [who are you, show your name for Christ’s sakes], I have a positive bias towards cops, real cops.
Reading seems not to be your strong suit, so I’ll quote: “I was named after a cop … [the first Latino police captain in Aurora,IL … different story … or my uncle the first Latino cop in Aurora]. The point is it’s all about respect for them, they {were] respected [by] those whom they encounter and it was given in return. Even violent criminals respected these guys [again a different story].” Hell, my sister came back to Wisconsin and worked as an asst DA for five years.
In point of fact my uncle was beaten to death on the job. You want to read about real cops: See http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_michael__060519_hector_jordan___trai.htm .
Crawley, no police is he, is an imperial little shit seeking the company of ass-kissers. That Gates didn’t comply made the little shit mad.
Thank you for citing: “Update II: If anybody feels like raining on the unapologetic little prick, Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department, call: 617-349-3300.”
Maybe someday anon, you can meet the little prick and kiss his ass. In the mean time, put your name behind your words.
First…MAL…it’s Sgt. Crowley…not Crawley.
Second…just because you have relatives that are/were cops doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem with cops.
Third…do you know Sgt. Crowley?? Did you ever meet him? You seem to be such an expert on him…so you must know more about him than what was reported on the media…right? BTW…how many people do you think the left sent out looking to dig up dirt on Sgt. Crowley?? Too bad they didn’t find anything…hey??
The fact all of his fellow coppers stood behind him means nothing to you?? Are they all not “real” cops in your mind? Please. You are lost in your own hateful world. Next…I suppose you will say only Latino cops are “real” cops. Why don’t you just come out and say what you mean?? Your words are dripping with what you want to say. It’s the “white” cops you hate…right??
Anger management, Mal.
Obviously, you have reached that penultimate place in life where you know more than others. Instead of counseling and mentoring and guiding others, you have chosen to eviscerate those who know less.
Now that you have knowledge, you should work on wisdom.
Wisdom’s overrated. It’s much more satisfying to resort to name calling and tearing others down for daring to hold a point of view that may differ from one’s own.
Yikes — I thought the beer summit was supposed to smooth this over. To paraphrase Jesse Jackson, “If Rosa Parks and the bus driver had been invited to the White House to settle their differences, the civil rights movement might never had happened.” Are there racially insensitive cops? Of course, there are — just witness the “banana eating little monkey” comment from one of Crawley’s fellow officers on the Cambridge police force in describing Professor Gates. This same cop says it was not a racist comment and that he is not a racist — really? Seriously?
When police officers are self-selected, and they have at their means the ability to curtail someone else civil rights, then these officers need to be held to a very high standard indeed. Black and brown people are harassed and stopped for things whites don’t even think about — driving while black or driving while Hispanic are very real phenomenon in this culture and it is repulsive to me for someone to automatically side with the police, especially when the balance of power is so disparate. This is a civil rights issue whether whites or police officers realize it or not. And any person calling themselves a liberal or a progressive needs to stand up for these civil rights and start giving the wrongfully arrested people moreof the benefit of the doubt in these types of situations.
GG, there’s no doubt driving while black/brown exists, and there’s also no denying there are some folks in the law enforcement community who’ve abused their power. However, the point I’m trying to make is that there are always two sides to every story, and it seems like some are ready to put Sgt. Crowley in a hood as the next grandmaster of the KKK for doing what he and the other officer on the scene felt was right.
Oh, and as a point of clarification, the cop who was suspended for sending out the racist email was a member of the Boston Police Department, not the Cambridge P.D. It may not make a bit of difference to you, but it’s important to have facts straight.
Therefore, Boston v. Cambridge disconfirms the point?
Heart of hearts Zach: Put yourself in NAZI Germany for the sake of argument, are you a bystander, or something worse?
I think you know.
Why do you leave out so many facts? Testilying and the blue wall of silence? Seems … just maybe of some import.
Wow Mal, I appreciate being called a racist, and I love the Nazi analogy even more. Truly, you’re a master of your craft.
Oh, and heart of hearts? I’d stand up against what happened in Nazi Germany, even if it meant my life. Believe what you will about me – and I know no words of mine will make a difference – but you don’t know me.
And with that, I’m done.
Anon: Is putting your name behind your words really that scary for you? Brave words to hide behind.
Crowley…not Crawley, whatever the guy’s name, he’s no cop. Most cops are though, at least in my dealings; see for example: http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8085.
Crowley should be judged on his performance on the job and it is found lacking in the minds of reasonable people; I am excluding ass-kissers.
As for PartiallyBlue: Psychology, as diminished a science as it is, seems an ironic resort for those can’t justify a cop in need of imperial servitude from the public whom he is sworn to protect and serve. The guy is shit, he’s likely a numerical minority on the force, if this possiblity helps the ass-kissers about.
My comment isn’t about the policeman, Mal. Don’t dissemble. You are the problem to a rational dicussion. Name calling and belligerence is a home for people who cannot articulate their thoughts but know how to inject their feelings to bully others.
None of us can see you puffing yourself up to look larger than us and none of us can feel you getting into our face. You do not intimidate us electronically. Should we expect you to next use all capital letters to show us how enraged you can be?
You have stated your opinions and if you have nothing more to say, move on, sir, move on.
Racism is shit. And the innocent mamn arrested by a stupid cop is the person you should be standing up for.
Now you are attacking someone for standing up for an innocent black man?
Posturing for a stupid cop.
It was not racial. Think about it. Crowley has a black partner for goodness sake. If Crowley was racist, this would have been the perfect time for his black partner to dump him. He didn’t.
We don’t have all the details but I think it went like this: The professor is cranky and irritated after his return from China, his front door won’t open so he gets in through the back door. He can’t open the door from the inside either because somebody jimmied the lock and broke it. The driver and he have forced the door when the two cops show up. Each cop takes a guy and separates them to hear their stories. Once he sees the professor’s ID he calls in and checks for wants and warrants. The professor does not know this is procedure and he gets all in the policeman’s face about it. That part is on tape as all radio communication is monitored. When the policeman has had enough of this, he invites Gates to step outside. He knows full well that this will be a public place and he can arrest this man if he does not settle down.
Gates follows him outside, not understanding that his behavior outside the house needs to be different.
When Gates gets cranky again, the policeman arrests him for disorderly conduct. There is nothing racial about this. The black cop backs up his partner because the professor was being a jerk and not because the partner prefers a racist cop to an upset innocent black man.
So now we have witnesses who describe the behavior of the professor, a partner who backs him up, a President who spoke in haste to support his friend, a few beers at the White House, and us here all up in arms about whether the the cop is racist. I did not mention that Sgt Crowley is also an instructor for racial profiling in his department.
It is unlikely that Sgt Crowley is a racist. Somebody, someplace, at some time, would have reported his racist behavior before and this would have been leaked to the press. You can believe whatever you want in this affair but I choose to believe that Crowley is not racist, that the professor was a cranky old man that afternoon, that Crowley manuevered events to arrest Gates because he was fed up with the professor’s nonsense.
I would have asked for a Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat beer if I had been invited to the White House or maybe a New Glarus Spotted Cow.
And with that, I am done on this topic.
Wow, MAL, you really need to lighten up on the rhetoric and the attacks. You’ll find you’ll be able to get your message through a lot easier and find people that agree with you, but that needless and pointless hostility will only shut people down and keep them from listening.
So, attack racism, stand up for civil rights but just don’t offend racism’s enablers. Less than compelling.
Zach is one of the few thoughtful liberal bloggers; he articulates his points well and on more than one occasion has been critical of his fellow Democrats and their underlying ideology. He deserves better than what that anti-Semite MAL has unloaded on him here.
Capper, too, while obsessed and given to ad hominenm attacks, is fairly thoughtful and articulate. You two better mind your p’s and q’s or else your traffic will fall off as OWN and MAL boycott you.
It’s never been about the traffic, Publius. I blog because I have something to say, regardless of whether anyone cares to listen.
As for what’s been said here, I’ll say again that folks are entitled to their opinions.
Publius now says I am an “anit-Semite.”
Tells you all you need to know about Publius.
An innocent man arrested by a stupid cop is the person you should be standing up for. Profiling will continue and as will stupid cops go about their job as they will find plenty of support.
One fundamental right that all Americans have is the right to free speech.
If we create a law called “disorderly conduct” that says you can’t yell at the police, call them names, berate them, criticize them to their face, or argue with them, we are headed down the road to becoming a police state.
In Iran, hundreds of protesters took to the public streets, in defiance of police. Did they refuse to obey police orders to disband, were they not acting
unruly on PUBLIC streets and shouting threats like “Death to Ahmadjindab”.
Were they not being uncooperative, acting provocatively, yelling threats, showing disrespect towards the police.
Yes. Of course.
And that is why, in a POLICE STATE, you can be arrested FOR DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Norris, are you arguing that folks should be able to talk to and treat police officers any way they see fit?
For that matter, would you make the same argument in general terms – that individuals should be free to act however they want – even if that behavior creates a disturbance – without fear of arrest?
Police officers are public servants. Like anyone else they ought to be treated with civility.
But can they arrest you if you yell at them or call them names?
If you yell at your congressman at a health care townhall meeting can they arrest you?
If you yell at the woman at the DMV can you be arrested.
In fact, If you stand up and call President Obama a a nazi and a socialist for his health care program, can you be arrested???
Of course not. Not in America. In Iran maybe but not in America
Police don’t deserve any more or less respect than the President.