Full police report on the Harvard Professor

[Danno 1,228]

Is it possible many of us "stereo typed" the cops when we suggested the cop had an ego or chip on his shoulder.

Apparently now we find out he was an expert at the academy for diversity training and has the friendship and respect of all people who know him black or white.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Police Report

"I'll speak with your mama outside," Harvard prof told Cambridge cops

http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggu...3092inside1.jpg Mugshot

JULY 23--Here are the police reports detailing the confrontation last week between Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Cambridge cops, who were condemned last night by President Barack Obama for acting "stupidly" in arresting the African-American scholar.

Cops responded to Gates's house after neighbor Lucia Whalen reported spotting "two black males with backpacks" trying to gain entry to the home (Gates, returning home from a trip overseas, and his driver were contending with a stuck front door).

The Cambridge Police Department reports, authored by Sergeant James Crowley and Officer James Figueroa, quote an incensed Gates yelling, "This is what happens to black men in America!," and, when asked by Crowley to speak with him outside the residence, Gates replied, "ya, I'll speak with your mama outside." A disorderly conduct rap was filed against Gates, but quickly dropped by prosecutors. Gates is reportedly considering legal action against the Cambridge police.

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[_Simpson_ 250]

I hope Obama steps up to the plate and apologizes.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

[natty bumppo 297]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

Its also an invitation to escalate the situation- if you know much about human psychology. 'Lets take it outside' isn't exactly a soothing invitation to most people in an 'argument.' The cop was fishing for probable cause and (to him) he got it. Its an attitude thing. Classical abuse of power 101, albeit nto that big of a deal.

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

[Danno 1,228]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

I certainly don't trust the police... but is it right to stereo-type all police by the well known tendencies of some?

Seems you pick and choose which groups we should do this too.

As for wanting to speak outside?

His diversity training might have taught him to avoid situations where it becomes a "he said, she said" environment.

or it might be police training which dictates when someone is becoming hostile (yelling and name calling) the upset person has a greater opportunity to excess weapons in the home or car.

Or it might be just what the officer said: he could not hear his radio with the Professor yelling so loud.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

It was stupid to escalate the incident to the point of arrest. I can understand Gates being upset, but there was no reason to immediately accuse the cop of being a racist. The cop was doing his job by checking on a B&E and asking for ID was not unreasonalbe at all, nor was verfifying the ID with Harvard. If he had produced an ID with the same address as the house, the incident should have been over in a few minutes, upset or not. It sounds like Gates over-reacted. I don't think he should have been arrested, but he should have shown the cop some respect for doing his job.

[Peikko 1,575]

What is the outcome you seek Danno, really? It seems to me that there are arguments on both sides that demand scrutiny and that's fair. However, you are apparently intent on proving that somehow, a well respected, educated black person should be 'torn down a peg or two' by the zeal with which you pursue this case.

I don't think anyone is coming out of this incident as well as they could do but I also certainly don't think this incident negates the fact that there is racial profiling going on in this day and age, and nor should 'white' folk seek to diminish the seriousness of such profiling by using incidents such as this to 'prove' that it's all some kind of black manipulation of the media and the application of the 'white guilt' mentality. Such an attitude serves no one well.

Edited July 23, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[natty bumppo 297]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

Its also an invitation to escalate the situation- if you know much about human psychology. 'Lets take it outside' isn't exactly a soothing invitation to most people in an 'argument.' The cop was fishing for probable cause and (to him) he got it. Its an attitude thing. Classical abuse of power 101, albeit nto that big of a deal.

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

is the cup half full or half empty? the invitation could be taken both ways. it was really up to the prof as to how it went. he was the one exercising his vocals and continued it doing so outside. what did it get him? maybe a good tour on the talk show circuit ...

is tomorrow here yet?

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

I certainly don't trust the police... but is it right to stereo-type all police by the well known tendencies of some?

Seems you pick and choose which groups we should do this too.

As for wanting to speak outside?

His diversity training might have taught him to avoid situations where it becomes a "he said, she said" environment.

or it might be police training which dictates when someone is becoming hostile (yelling and name calling) the upset person has a greater opportunity to excess weapons in the home or car.

Or it might be just what the officer said: he could not hear his radio with the Professor yelling so loud.

Stereotyping is your forte.

The law is the law. Abuse of power is abuse of power. An irate old man is an irate old man.

I can see how you would define a walking cane a weapon. Lets see the full police report...

Nope. No mention of the police officer feeling threatened.

So... no threat to an officer's safety.

More so. Lets continue reading the script.

Oh yes- the officer repeatedly uses the professor's language. Racist this, racist that.

From a more observant perspective its clear the professor was arrested to shut him up. A cop's actions resulted in no charges being filed because there was no probable cause for arrest.

Dannologic fails yet again.

It was stupid to escalate the incident to the point of arrest. I can understand Gates being upset, but there was no reason to immediately accuse the cop of being a racist. The cop was doing his job by checking on a B&E and asking for ID was not unreasonalbe at all, nor was verfifying the ID with Harvard. If he had produced an ID with the same address as the house, the incident should have been over in a few minutes, upset or not. It sounds like Gates over-reacted. I don't think he should have been arrested, but he should have shown the cop some respect for doing his job.

Exactly.

People have attitudes and off-days.

And power can be abused. Which is why this case made the news.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

Its also an invitation to escalate the situation- if you know much about human psychology. 'Lets take it outside' isn't exactly a soothing invitation to most people in an 'argument.' The cop was fishing for probable cause and (to him) he got it. Its an attitude thing. Classical abuse of power 101, albeit nto that big of a deal.

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

is the cup half full or half empty? the invitation could be taken both ways. it was really up to the prof as to how it went. he was the one exercising his vocals and continued it doing so outside. what did it get him? maybe a good tour on the talk show circuit ...

is tomorrow here yet?

As a teacher I usually quieted my students by lowering my voice instead of yelling back or overstepping my authority as a disciplinarian.

Police officers get yelled at and taunted all the time. And yet arrests are not made for disorderly conduct all the time based on these voiced cacophonies.

That probable talk show circuit wouldn't have occurred if the cop wouldn't have overstepped his authority.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

As a teacher I usually quieted my students by lowering my voice instead of yelling back or overstepping my authority as a disciplinarian.

Police officers get yelled at and taunted all the time. And yet arrests are not made for disorderly conduct all the time based on these voiced cacophonies.

That probable talk show circuit wouldn't have occurred if the cop wouldn't have overstepped his authority.

Really? I just shot them. It was easier

and I agree with spooky- the whole thing need not go that far.

[natty bumppo 297]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

Its also an invitation to escalate the situation- if you know much about human psychology. 'Lets take it outside' isn't exactly a soothing invitation to most people in an 'argument.' The cop was fishing for probable cause and (to him) he got it. Its an attitude thing. Classical abuse of power 101, albeit nto that big of a deal.

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

is the cup half full or half empty? the invitation could be taken both ways. it was really up to the prof as to how it went. he was the one exercising his vocals and continued it doing so outside. what did it get him? maybe a good tour on the talk show circuit ...

is tomorrow here yet?

As a teacher I usually quieted my students by lowering my voice instead of yelling back or overstepping my authority as a disciplinarian.

Police officers get yelled at and taunted all the time. And yet arrests are not made for disorderly conduct all the time based on these voiced cacophonies.

That probable talk show circuit wouldn't have occurred if the cop wouldn't have overstepped his authority.

or the prof had ceased shoving buttons ...

LEOs get yelled at and taunted all the time ... and sometimes a disorderly conduct is charged (some are kept ... some are dismissed)

half empty ... half full.

[HAL 9000 96]

As a teacher I usually quieted my students by lowering my voice instead of yelling back or overstepping my authority as a disciplinarian.

Police officers get yelled at and taunted all the time. And yet arrests are not made for disorderly conduct all the time based on these voiced cacophonies.

That probable talk show circuit wouldn't have occurred if the cop wouldn't have overstepped his authority.

Really? I just shot them. It was easier

and I agree with spooky- the whole thing need not go that far.

I think we (most of us) can agree to that. Gates himself should have STFU.

I mean if we agree with the 'that uppity N-person thought he could tell the police off by playing the race-card' crowd as the ONLY reason this is even news we'd also have to support their suspensions from VJ for being equally whiny here.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yeah... now we can trust the police right?

I still don't see probable cause for an arrest.

The whole 'speak with him outside of his residence' seems like a provocation as well.

continuing the conversation outside could calm the situation ... more witnesses

Its also an invitation to escalate the situation- if you know much about human psychology. 'Lets take it outside' isn't exactly a soothing invitation to most people in an 'argument.' The cop was fishing for probable cause and (to him) he got it. Its an attitude thing. Classical abuse of power 101, albeit nto that big of a deal.

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

is the cup half full or half empty? the invitation could be taken both ways. it was really up to the prof as to how it went. he was the one exercising his vocals and continued it doing so outside. what did it get him? maybe a good tour on the talk show circuit ...

is tomorrow here yet?

As a teacher I usually quieted my students by lowering my voice instead of yelling back or overstepping my authority as a disciplinarian.

Police officers get yelled at and taunted all the time. And yet arrests are not made for disorderly conduct all the time based on these voiced cacophonies.

That probable talk show circuit wouldn't have occurred if the cop wouldn't have overstepped his authority.

or the prof had ceased shoving buttons ...

LEOs get yelled at and taunted all the time ... and sometimes a disorderly conduct is charged (some are kept ... some are dismissed)

half empty ... half full.

Indeed Brother Natty. IMO he should have just shut up or at the minimum played smarter and asked the cop for an apology. But no- he was human to have been upset. People are people.

Its kind of hard to go to someone's home and justify that charge after playing the authority game. Perhaps that's why the charges were dismissed pretty quickly.