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Cop in Gates case says he has nothing to apologize for
By adamg on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 5:49pm
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Sgt. James Crowley ...
says that Sgt. James Crowley will refer to himself in the third person while stipulating to his lack of need to apologize.
"There are not many
Can you say obstinate and self-righteous in his intransigence? A cop who, in the spirit of reconciliation say, "no."
The City of Cambridge thought dropping the charges was a "just resolution" and therefore certainly the charges were without merit. But this cop is taking the incident personally.
He could just as easily say "I'm sorry that my best efforts to enforce the peace have been construed as a spiteful action and I hope we can move beyond it."
Good for Gates for asking for an apology. This cop's nature will come out.
That wasn't just a City of Cambridge statement
Henry Louis Gates signed off on it as well. And now he's thinking about suing.
"According to the police
It takes 3 seconds to say "Sgt. James Crowley badge 12345." How hard is it so say "Sgt. James Crowley badge 12345" even if the person who you are talking to is talking or yelling?
Moreover, Crowley claims that Gates' "talking and yelling and making threats" inhibited him from answering Gates' question, "Crowley repeatedly tried to answer Gates, but was interrupted when Gates started yelling at him and making threats."
I conclude that Crowley's claim in the police report to have tried to answer Mr. Gates request for his name and badge number is dubious. Who do you believe?
And yet the DA thought the charges were without merit. Who will explain the gap between the DA and the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association? Can we hear from the Cambridge Police Department to settle this apparent conflict?
Sgt. James Crowley
Sgt. Crowley should be given praise from our president for doing what police officers are paid to do: Arrest what appears to be somebody breaking into a residence. I got into the same situation here in my hometown but fortunately I knew all 22 policemen in our department and when they came up with drawn guns, they recognized me and just chewed me out for not calling dispatch to inform them what I was about to do! Sgt. Crowley owes nobody an apology. The professor and our president owe HIM an apology.
Crowley didn't arrest him
Crowley didn't arrest him becuase he appeared to be breaking in because Crowley learned from Gates that it was Gates' home.
Crowley arrested Gates for disturbing the peace but no one called to complain about someone disturbing the peace, and the law requires that there is an identifiable person affected. Since there was not, the DA droppped the charges.
It looks like the cop arrested Gates on a trumped up charge. I don't know how you could describe that as "going his job."
Wrong.
He wasn't arrested for disturbing the peace, he was arrested for disorderly conduct. The law does not require an identifiable person affected for that charge.
Someone missed the part about "helping professions"
Dude. Why would you EVER not apologize for a situation you were part of that was frustrating or traumatic for someone else? That's like one of the most basic concepts we learn in the dealing-with-people fields. It's not the same thing as admitting wrongdoing. You can tell someone that you realize the interaction must have been awful for them, and your intention clearly wasn't to make someone feel guilty/incompetent/stupid/whatever, and you're really sorry that your words and actions ended up doing that. Nowhere do you even have to get into whether what you did was right.
Unless the cop DID intend to make him feel bad, whytf can't he say he was sorry the gentleman felt bad?
No kidding
He doesn't even have to MEAN it.
oh god, here we go...
...the followup circus is likely to clarify nothing, change nothing, teach us nothing.
What I do know with
What I do know with certainty is that the officer, even by his own written report, understood that he was dealing with a lawful resident of the house when he made the arrest. That same report makes it clear that at the time of the arrest, the officer was no longer concerned about the report of a burglary in progress involving two black males. No, by this point we’re talking about something else entirely.
Once the officer established
Once the officer established that Gates was indeed standing in his own home, the encounter should have ended. Objecting to an officer's presence in one's residence should hardly be grounds for arrest.
Sorry, but the officer just
Sorry, but the officer just can't walk away. Plus, from the sounds of things he was still confirming Gates actually lived there, after getting a picture identification.
Gates, if the report was to be believed, was unreasonable from the start, and escalated the situation. That escalation was the reason for the arrest.
Silly question... Harvard
Silly question... Harvard owns the property, would a search of property records show that Gates lived there or would it just show it was Harvard Faculty housing?
Yes we know it is his home but the question is who knew that and when.
Question
Why exactly can't the officer just walk away?
He's verified that no break-in is being committed. The homeowner has provided his identification. Sure, the homeowner is acting like an asshole and yelling at him, right on out to his porch. But why can't the officer just walk away?
He should have walked away.
Maybe he was trying to talk to the original caller or dispatch to explain what happened though too.
Aw shit
The apocalypse must be here. Pete Nice and I are agreeing about something.
Im pretty sure I said that in my first post on this subject
that Gates should not have been arrested for disorderly conduct. It really doesn't serve any justice here. Maybe summons him in or even use the obstruction of justice charge as it appeared that he did that more than acted disorderly. Well, Im sure he did act disorderly but who cares. Let the man yell at you and leave the call.
My whole issue here is the initial actions by the cop at the house and his response to the call and the people that question. After being in hundreds of situations like Crowley I can relate to the situation. The resident doesn't know why you are there, or thinks you are there because you saw a black man open a porch, and doesnt understand why he has to come outside etc etc.
If---then
If that's all he was doing, then he should have said "Sir, I'm satisfied that no breaking and entering was occuring here. Sorry for the confusion. I'm leaving now." I'm sure it's pretty quiet in his cruiser. If Gates had followed him to his car and started screaming through the glass or something, then we can revisit just how much of a public disturbance he was making.
Instead, according to his OWN report, he said something to the effect of "I'm stepping outside, if you're going to continue, you're going to have to follow me out there."
He then blames Gates' "tumultuous behavior" for the crowd response...not the 6 cop cars and 6+ cops standing around wondering what the hell is going on themselves.
Seriously, "tumultuous behavior" should be reserved to a riot...or to a guy shoving into everyone he passes by...or to a naked guy eating bark off of a tree and yelling primal screams in Harvard Square (and doesn't have a performance permit like that really funny act last Tuesday). I'm not talking about how the courts have distorted the issue or all of the Contempt of Cop disorderly charges that have ever been held up in court.
Not only that but as soon as the cop left the "tumultuous behavior" would have stopped! Gates was mad at the cop with some good reason (albeit maybe a little more on tilt than most might have been), but he wasn't mad at the world and he wasn't mad in the head. I'd actually love to hear from the people who were in that "crowd" outside as to how "shocked" they were and whether they were "shocked" because Gates was yelling or actually shocked at the fact that he was being treated this way and they knew who he was.
I know I'm preaching to the converted, Pete, because you've reiterated that you think the arrest was wrong, but as the situation spiraled downhill, I don't think making up hypotheticals to defend the cop's behavior after a certain point is justified.
hypotheticals
I have to use a hypothetical since I was not there and there is usually more to the story than what the police report said.
Im just trying to think what all the cops and bystanders thought when they were there.
I saw a quote from the guy who took the picture of Gates, but I have to run and dont have time to find it.
Gates, race and culture
Dan Kennedy analyzes.
Kennedy's analysis is
Kennedy's analysis is spot-on, it seems to me.
Both sides could have done better.
-carpundit
we know enough that...
Kennedy also says this:
Read the whole article to find out why he has settled on this opinion.
Kennedy also says this:
I think I agree with him.
I think I agree with him. My take is this:
Gates was obnoxious. He should have acted in a manner more in keeping with his education and status.
Crowley let Gates get to him. He should have walked away.
-CP
fighting for control - in Gates home
Crowley, in a recent interview, stated that Gates "pushed-it" and "provoked" him.
Crowley is referring to an awareness he had that Gates was challenging him in some way - perhaps challenging Crowley's frame of reference or motivation - but Crowley may be saying more; he may be saying that Gates was intent to provoke his (Crowley's) anger or that Gates was trying to provoke Crowley to arrest him. (Now, that doesn't make sense to me) but what if Crowley is essentially saying: He was asking for it.
What if Gates was simply trying to assert his own authority in order to have some control over he situation in his own home?
What if you've said
What if you've said everything you're going to say like four or five times already? You come down on Gates' side, we get it.
What if
What if I talk to your mama?
Kennedy infers CPD may have improperly withheld arrest report
Seems to me that the only
Seems to me that the only person who brought race into this was Gates. The white officer, the hispanic officer and the black officer all seemed to be acting professionally in the picture I've seen. Gates is the one that brought up race, Gates is the one who was yelling and Gates was the one who brought up the officers "mama'.
The sergeant answers to a black mayor, a black governor and a black president. A good portion of the Cambridge City Council is black as well. In fact many of the officers Ive seen in Cambridge are black.
There are good and bad and
There are good and bad and fair and racist black people and white people and other people. Therefore we have to judge them by their actions and words. Whatever you think of the detained party, the arresting officer is now opposing the official position of the Cambridge Police department. Whatever his intentions and triggers might have been, he is now embarrassing the city, the department and white people in general. Enough. Suck it up, get over yourself, make a gesture and then go back and lick your wounds, grumble about the inequity of life, whatever. None of the rest of us deserve this awful theatre. One officer's ego does not warrant international attention or the effective stain that goes along with this unattractive event. Anyone that had any larger perspective would be able to let this pass.
The lady who dropped the
The lady who dropped the dime brought race into it, 'two black men with backpacks, etc.' She was right about the number of men, their skin color, but definitely not about the backpacks and she neglected to mention they both were impeccably dressed in men's suits. Her concern about a B&E was misplaced but these things happen. Her report was not where the problem started. The problem started when the policeman wouldn't answer Gates question in Gates' home - claims he tried but was interrupted (see its Gates fault) then arrested him, in his own home without a warrant (Unconstitutional) on charges that didn't stand up even according to the local DA.
Gates brought race into it as a question when the officer would not answer his question in his house.
It looks like the cop arrested Gates becuase Gates accused him of racism, as a question?
Suits?
The arrest photo shows Professor Gates in jeans and a polo shirt. Did he change after pushing the door in?
I think your right. The car
I think your right. The car drive was wearing a suit.
The person who called, a
The person who called, a Harvard Magazine writer (JUST SAYING), gave a description. The officer shows up and comes across someone that could have fit that description. Is Gates black? yes Could he have had a back pack? Well he just got back from china I guess it is possible he brought at least one bag with him before realizing he could not open the door. Even if he did not have a bag how does an officer know that after the professor already entered the house.
The officer did not inject race into this, if we take your theory it was the enlightened Harvard Magazine writer who did.
Also I do find it amusing that Gates is being described as wearing a "suit" when the outfit is clearly a polo shirt. Not exactly burglar clothing but still not a three piece suit!
Not a writer
She isn't a writer for Harvard Magazine. She is the Circulation and Fundraising Manager...AKA she calls people to get them to donate or buy subscriptions to the magazine (or has a bevy of people under her to do such things).
are you kidding me
Of course the women brought the mens skin color into the 911 call... Should she have just left that out of the description she was giving to the dispatcher?? If she mentioned that they were short men would that be saying that she has something against midgets, dwarfs, and other little people?? Thank you Sgt. Crowley for doing what you do. I am glad it was just this pompous ass and not a desperate criminal on the other side of the door... a reality that Sgt. Crowley faces day in and day out.
What about the things she *didn't* notice
If it was purely descriptive to mention race, then why didn't she mention "small and slight" or "older" or "gray haired" or "walks with a cane" or "one of them is wearing a suit" or "is using keys in the lock".
Seems like she noted their races, and then didn't bother to look any further.
And, while standing there the whole time waiting for the cops, she never managed to jot down the medallion number or markings or livery license plate number on the limo that one of the two "black men" drove away in.
Fascinating failure of observation beyond a quick and simple race/gender description, don't you think?
Facepalm
Yes officer, it appears there's a man next door struggling with the door, trying to force entry. Well...he's ... it appears he's an older gentleman...I'd say...yes, yes, he appears to be wearing jeans...yes, a shirt as well...white, by the looks of it. The shirt, the shirt...the shirt is white. And...it appears...yes, appears he's not wearing a mask of any sort...looks like he has some shoes on...and likely socks as well. I'm trying to make out whether or not he's wearing a belt, but I can't...race? What? What color is he? Well...I'd hate to inject race into this thing. I'm sure you have enough information to investigate based on what I gave you. Good luck, officer.
"two black men with
"two black men with backpacks" kinda says it all but until I read the 911 transcript I don't think it makes sense for me to debate it.
Has the 911 transcript, which is a public record, been published or are the Cambridge Police Department withholding it on account of the assertion, this is an ongoing investigation?
your standard of racism
By your standard, the caller is also sexist since she mentioned that the two people at the house were men.
did you say: fascinating failure of observation?
Given the release of the 911 call, I believe you should open mouth and insert foot. Your rush to judgment without being aware of the facts is something you might want to reconsider before accusing someone of racism.
"Cambridge police acted stupidly"
so says the Constitutional scholar and president of the US.
Is "stupidly" a concept officer Crowley understands?
Crowley wasn't provoked, Crowley claims to have been provoked and reserves the right to use his position to provoke others.
President gets involved
"Cambridge Police acted stupidly."
Officer Crowley sees no reason
to apologize for acting stupidly.
Gates should apologize
And say thanks to the woman who dropped a dime for reacting to a possible break-in at his house.
Sgt. Crowley's conduct should be questioned
Not only should he apologize, he needs to move out of town and get a job Walmart. This cop makes me feel bad for being white...He is a racist, no doubt in my mind. Look for his photo and imagine him with a shaved head. "I have nothing to apologize for" Give me a break. I want everyone to start looking for dirt on this cop, this is not the first thing he has done wrong I'll bet !!! he must have been abused as a child. Damm I am MAD about this man's actions, and everyone else should be as well. If this can happen in your own home "disturbance of the peace" he lives there and proved it, the cop should have apologized and departed promptly. The US is becoming a police state - WAKE UP !!!
Congratulations
You can look at a photo of someone, imagine him with characteristic skinhead styling, and use that to support an argument that he's a "racist"?
Are you judging a person by how they look? (We have a word for that.) Or even by how you envision they *could* look, with you as their fashion advisor?
I've seen people here make several foolish assumptions and assertions in the comment threads on this story, but this comment is pushing the angry Internet half-wit cliché envelope.
Books, not drugs.
Skip Gates
NeilV, I agree with you. We really do not have enough info yet to come to a reasonable conclusion. We should not demonize either party at this point. Now that I think of it, we probably should never demonize anyone, ever. That would take the fun out of blogging though.
Ego vs Ego with a little LEO
Ego vs Ego with a little LEO safety policy intertwined.
Equivalence
The restyled Crowley = skinhead thing kind of reminds me of something I've been seeing around town ... like, all the anti-health plan LaRouchies with their Obamafurher posters ...
I'd say it works about as well, too. :-p
Well he was on the scene
Well he was on the scene when a famous black basketball player died.
Oh wait on second thought he was on scene and doing everything in his power to save the black basketball player after rushing over and barging into the gym. Oh Sergeant Crowley when will you ever stop busting into places like your a cop or something!
I think Crowley's a decent
I think Crowley's a decent human being who doesn't know it's an abuse of power and poor judgment to bust a man for public disturbance four minutes after you clear him of B&E in his own home.
But if you want to know about his attitudes on race, ask the officers in the CPD. I don't know what you'd hear one way or the other.
That said, I think Crowley may be an equal opportunity bust them for public disturbance kind of cop and I think it's SOP for the CPD.
Ive done business in
Ive done business in Cambridge, most of the cops seem pretty high and mighty, black/white/latino. That being said EVERYONE in Cambridge is high and mighty. Being in Cambridge is like being in a cartoon because it HAS more money then any other city in the state but also happens to be very diverse. No other city in the state has that convergence of influences and I really think that combined with the fantasy worlds of Harvard and MIT the city is just a crazy place to be a cop or any other government employee. So many people have said he should have known who Gates was, which is hilarious because lets me honest everybody in Cambridge is a "do you know who I am"
I do agree they are equal oppurtunity bust em cops... problem for Gates is he already framed this as a race issue. I do believe if he were white Crowley would have booked him under the same circumstances. Im not going to debate if that is wrong or right but he can do it under the rules and it has nothing to do with race. Crowley himself has been very smart about avoiding the race card whenever possible while Gates is screaming it at the top of his lungs.
How could any self-respecting cop resist arresting somebody
who busts out with a "Do you know who I am?" Those six words work like magic for getting a trip to the slammer.
So those kids who got wrongfully convicted of murders in Boston, and who then spent years in Walpole only to be later exonerated by DNA and whatnot, generally got settlements in the tens of millions. How much should the innocent, wrongfully imprisoned Gates get for his four hours in jail?