Full police report on the Harvard Professor

[nowhereman 1]

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

it a psychological ploy designed to reduce aggression. removing a person from their "territory" reduces their sense of empowerment and defensiveness. this is psych 101 and part of the first week's training in police academy.

Perhaps but it could also be interpreted as part of the police officer's intent to arrest the professor (i.e. outside his residence).

[Ban Hammer 13,659]

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

it a psychological ploy designed to reduce aggression. removing a person from their "territory" reduces their sense of empowerment and defensiveness. this is psych 101 and part of the first week's training in police academy.

Perhaps but it could also be interpreted as part of the police officer's intent to arrest the professor (i.e. outside his residence).

they can do that inside too ya know.

[Emancipation 2]

The news report I heard last night said that the cop asked the prof to step outside the house because he thought an intruder may have been inside. He was allegedly trying to remove the man from the house to make sure there was no danger inside - it wasn't about "having words with him".. it was about checking the place out.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The whole thing sounds like a stupid misunderstanding.

[nowhereman 1]

The news report I heard last night said that the cop asked the prof to step outside the house because he thought an intruder may have been inside. He was allegedly trying to remove the man from the house to make sure there was no danger inside - it wasn't about "having words with him".. it was about checking the place out.

You could flip a coin on this one... my gut feeling is that neither the officer's version or the professor's version is entirely accurate (i.e. the truth is somewhere in between).

[nowhereman 1]

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

it a psychological ploy designed to reduce aggression. removing a person from their "territory" reduces their sense of empowerment and defensiveness. this is psych 101 and part of the first week's training in police academy.

Perhaps but it could also be interpreted as part of the police officer's intent to arrest the professor (i.e. outside his residence).

they can do that inside too ya know.

Yes but the standard of probable cause goes up a notch if the alleged offender is inside his residence.

[Emancipation 2]

The news report I heard last night said that the cop asked the prof to step outside the house because he thought an intruder may have been inside. He was allegedly trying to remove the man from the house to make sure there was no danger inside - it wasn't about "having words with him".. it was about checking the place out.

You could flip a coin on this one... my gut feeling is that neither the officer's version or the professor's version is entirely accurate (i.e. the truth is somewhere in between).

Well it always is of course... I don't think it's in anyway national news worthy however, and certainly should never have been talked about publicly by the President. That certainly isn't helping matters any in this case.

[SMOKE 1,426]

The news report I heard last night said that the cop asked the prof to step outside the house because he thought an intruder may have been inside. He was allegedly trying to remove the man from the house to make sure there was no danger inside - it wasn't about "having words with him".. it was about checking the place out.

You could flip a coin on this one... my gut feeling is that neither the officer's version or the professor's version is entirely accurate (i.e. the truth is somewhere in between).

Well it always is of course... I don't think it's in anyway national news worthy however, and certainly should never have been talked about publicly by the President. That certainly isn't helping matters any in this case.

yup! just proved he was paying attention while in Rev. Wrong's church. w/o knowing the facts the white cop 'acted stupidly'

[Wonderer 0]

The police should have used a taser. Don't tase me bro!!!

[HAL 9000 96]

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

I certainly hope so.

A few more days on OT. Then we'll have baiting on other topics.

Of course there are limits. You can't yell fire at the movies or bomb at an airport. You can, however, have a discussion with a police officer even if the decibels show one to be a complete azz.

Accusing someone of racism in an elevated and irate tone of voice isn't illegal and that's why legally, the police dept couldn't pursue the 'case' any further.

Disorderly conduct charges is the preeminent method of getting booked by provocative officers that have no other reason to lock someone up just because they can. Again... its not belittling a law enforcer's job description as it deserves all the due respect available given the sworn oath to protect and serve the citizenship... but man... a lime has to be drawn somewhere with police state tactics.

I agree. I also don't believe the police officer is a rascist. I believe the professor was upset that the officer followed him into his home & gave him plenty of attitude. In turn I believe the officer lost his temper & arrested the professor without having a legitimate reason for doing so (and like you said disorderly conduct is an often used & sometimes abused catch all offense).

The professor should have politely told the officer to leave his house & the officer should have left when he found out that the professor lived there. If this would have happened the whole incident would be a non issue.

This is what it looks like its turning out to be. If the roles were reversed I'd probably not be surprised that there would have been an arrest just because of the abuse of authority as a tool to shut up someone was used.

The news report I heard last night said that the cop asked the prof to step outside the house because he thought an intruder may have been inside. He was allegedly trying to remove the man from the house to make sure there was no danger inside - it wasn't about "having words with him".. it was about checking the place out.

You could flip a coin on this one... my gut feeling is that neither the officer's version or the professor's version is entirely accurate (i.e. the truth is somewhere in between).

Well it always is of course... I don't think it's in anyway national news worthy however, and certainly should never have been talked about publicly by the President. That certainly isn't helping matters any in this case.

yup! just proved he was paying attention while in Rev. Wrong's church. w/o knowing the facts the white cop 'acted stupidly'

No amount of evidence- not even the cop's own police report, will convince you that there was no reason to be present on premises after the ID was verified.

[nowhereman 1]

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

I certainly hope so.

A few more days on OT. Then we'll have baiting on other topics.

Well someone could always start another thread on global warming

[HAL 9000 96]

This entire incident will be tomorrow's news soon.

I certainly hope so.

A few more days on OT. Then we'll have baiting on other topics.

Well someone could always start another thread on global warming

Now don't toy with me like that.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Racial insults are a violation of TOS and offending posts have been removed.

[Danno 1,228]

Q: If the first responding officer had been Black, would the Professors immediate reaction been different?

If so, what does that say about the Professor?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Q: If the first responding officer had been Black, would the Professors immediate reaction been different?

If so, what does that say about the Professor?

Who do you think is in a position to answer this question, Danno?

Not being able to read the guy's mind we're left with pure conjecture (in other words, what people want to believe).