Anyone been following the story about the Harvard Professor who was arrested?

Short of it is that he lives in a prominent neighborhood in Cambridge, Mass and had just returned home from a trip from China. The front door was jammed so he went through the backdoor and then with the help of his driver was able to force the stuck front door open. Apparently, a neighbor saw all of this activity and informed the police about a possible break in.

Cops came and asked the professor for his id and to come outside for questioning. Allegedly, the prof didn't want to comply and asked the officer for his id and badge number. The prof eventually came outside and presented the id but then accused the officer of racism (the prof is African American). He felt that he was guilty of being "black in America" and that the officer had no business asking him for his id in his own house when he had done nothing wrong. Apparently, the conversation got out of hand and the cop arrested the professor for disorderly conduct. Since then the charges have been dropped and the mayor of Cambridge apologized.

Interestingly enough, the POTUS weigh in on it today.


Obama: Police who arrested professor 'acted stupidly' - CNN.com

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I wondered when someone would start a thread on this. But it's all very interesting.

I will admit that when I saw the headlines where Obama said the police acted stupidly, it made me flinch.

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does this surprise anyone coming from this clown??? not me...

Obama stated last night that he didn't have all the facts. To make a statement that the police "acted stupidly" without having all the facts is what I find stupid.

I did hear a little bit of a different rendition (yesterday evening, I think I had ABC news on the boob tube) as to why the professor was arrested. But, it's over now.

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Who is Lynnie?? ~~~~~~~Signed, All Y'all

Has any other president smeared more americans than obama-no! He apologizes to the world about america's misgivings forgetting about all the good this nation has done for the world. And when he comes home he smears the american people to their face. Quit the leader. He's a liberal activist, turned liberal attorney turned liberal politician. His actions now shouldnt surprise anyone other than the zombies that still think the man walks on water because olby told them so.

DUDE, go have a drink, take a deep breath, and relax. You are going to make your head explode with that kind of anger. And it is only 10:30 in the morning.

Being a liberal activist, attorney, politician (or anything else) isn't necessarily bad. But saying the police acted stupidly without having all the facts is...

Many, if not most, of Obama supporters don't approve of everything he says or does. Many, if not most, aren't "zombies"...

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What was the different rendition? Thx...

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I agree, it made me flinch too ... though he did couch it by saying that he was probably biased because Gates is a friend.

If the Cambridge police did not recognize Gates' name once he produced an ID, I am surprised. He is pretty famous even by Harvard standards.

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Proud to practice indoctrination
at least when it comes to the GATOR NATION

theres a difference between anger and passion.... Anger isnt something i have too much of. How could i living in paradise and taking full advantage of it everyday? Not possible

Liberal liberal liberal liberal liberal! How dare that liberal dare to be liberal and liberate America into a more liberal status!

I dunno, I think if I had just gotten off a 14 hour flight, plus all the driving to and fro, and couldn't get into my house because the #@$% door got stuck, and all I wanted was a cool drink and warm bed, and finally got in MY house, only to be stopped by a police officer, I would be testy. I would probably vocalize my displeasure, as this man did, and still dig out my identification, as this man did. If that officer then arrested me, on my front lawn, for being annoyed and vocalizing my annoyance, ON MY FRONT LAWN, it would be stupid. Add the race issue into it, and it is monumentally stupid. The officer should have thanked him, apologized for the misunderstanding, and left. I'm glad Obama has the cajones to say it like it is.

And for the uninformed, here are some of Obama's praises for America. Funny how some think the guy would actually spend so much time and effort working to be elected President of a country he apparently hates.

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"My life has been a huge adventure, always. I like them bold, I'm done with creepy." - Seagrovegirl

The news story I heard was that the police knocked, the prof answered the door and the police proceeded to answer the call as it was called in......a suspected burglary. This was explained and the prof wouldn't provide ID at the first request. Nor would he cooperate with stepping outside, etc.

The second time he was questioned, the prof became defensive and accused the popo of being racists......

So, maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle.....who knows.

However! Should the police show up at my house for a possible burglary in progress and it was a mistake - myself who broke into my own home, I would produce ID as well as the Deed to my house. My tax dollars pay the police to protect me. I would cooperate.

My house is old, my doors are old. In humid weather, they swell and one door I can barely open in August. So, I go to another door as well.

Does anyone find it interesting that the neighbors who called the police didn't recognize the prof.? The prof. tried to enter the front door first, then went around to the back. I am getting two new neighbors.......what if they are doing a good deed by calling the police simply because they don't recognize me?

The prof. expended a lot of energy by NOT cooperating with the police......this is just my opinion, however. And, a waste of news/air time, I thinks.

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Who is Lynnie?? ~~~~~~~Signed, All Y'all

It's funny how any dialogue with kkddbb reminds me of that old axiom "It's a waste of time to get into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent."

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My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

By the way, I think both of these guys acted rather stupidly. The professor probably had a better excuse. I doubt most beat cops would really have any knowledge of who a prominent professor was or what he looked like.There had been multiple break-ins in that neighborhood. There was an over-reaction by both of them and a really big over-reaction by the media.

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My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

I wonder why, when the ID was presented, the cop didn't radio dispatch and ask someone to verify the owner of the property?

They seem to have no problem doing that when they pull someone over for speeding...I am sure that verifying the professor's identify and ownership/residency would have been just as easy. Obviously, it's not as though the"short black,58y/oprofessor who walkswith a cane" was a threat to the cop with a gun...since all they could charge him with was disorderly conduct (I always thought that was cop-talk for being drunk???)

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

no, that is disorderly intoxication...there is a difference...

thanks.

Any thoughts about why not verify the ownership of the house?

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

I imagine he couldnt over the professor screaming... after all he did draw a crowd. I understand that the prof. was mad about the situation, but had he acted like an adult and given him the id, and not showed his a**, im sure things would have gone much smoother... but, he knew what he was doing, so he cried racism and told the cop that he didnt know who he was messin with, and he hadnt heard the last of this.... the cop was doing his job, and handled it pretty well.... the arrest reports back it up... check them out....

I think that's a great idea, but extra work for police, dispatch, etc. Running a check on license is protocol, I presume?

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Who is Lynnie?? ~~~~~~~Signed, All Y'all

If the police come to your house without a warrant, as far as I know there is no legal requirement that you show ID, step outside, let them in, or even talk to them. We live in America, not some sort of police state. It sounds like the police may have been flaunting their authority.

The officer who is in the eye of the storm.

Officer at eye of storm says he won’t apologize - The Boston Globe

i think that if he would have provided his id and said "this is my house officer, check it out" - the officer would have checked and said "sorry bout the mix up, have a nice night", but yelling and causing a scene in public is illegal, it doesnt matter what color you are...

The officer was there on a breaking and entering call and it all started on the porch, where the officer asked him to provide id, thats when he went inside and starting yelling...you cant just walk away from a cop trying to investigate a crime, especially if your the suspect..... he tried to get him to come outside several times before he actually did.

This is all true, but just being cooperative with the police would have been a better way for the professor to diffuse the situation. After hearing the cop's first radio interview, it seems he (the cop) acted pretty correctly. He was called to the site, under suspicion that a crime was being committed, and he was simply trying to find out the facts. He asked the professor if any other people were in the house, and the prof. got belligerent. There could have been any number of situations (domestic violence, hostage) brewing. The cop asked him to come out in order to secure the scene and protect himself. I think Obama used wrong language to call the cop stupid.

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My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

I would hope that President Obama would issue a public apology to the cops. The real story here is that President Obama would comment publicly on a situation in which he admittedly did not have all the facts.

How and why would anyone live in a neighborhood and not know who the hail their neighbors are? Anyway, sounds like the Professor was fluffing his wings, If called, a police officer is just doing his job by asking for ID. Not unreasonable. It wasn't like he pulled a gun on the man.

One time, when I was away on vacation, my sister set off my alarm. She couldn't remember the password when alarm central called. She didn't hear the police bust in my back door. They held her until a neighbor came over who verified who she was and gave them the password. She cooperated and everything was pleasant, but she didn't get all pissant about law enforcement doing their job. The only time I would comply with an officer's request is if it sounded totally unreasonable, like a time I was pulled over for a headlight out and he asked me to step out of the car on a dark highway. Drove out their like a bat out of hell and went to my closest PD.

Why use the word stupid without "knowing" the person? Sounds pretty "stupid" to me. Matter of fact, I would never call anyone stupid. We are not even allowed to use that term in my own family with each other.

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I'm not absolutely certain of the law, but I don't think that's correct. I do know that a man under arrest has the right to remain silent, so I'm almost certain that a person of interest has the right to refuse to answer questions. The Law is the law.

I was just about to say the same thing!

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yes, the law is the law, but he wasnt under arrest yet, once your arrested you have the right to remain silent, but the cop was trying to figure out what was going on by asking questions... if he really wanted to be an ass he could have charged him with obstruction, or some other handy charges cops have available when they get in a situation like that.... now, he probably wouldnt get convicted, but he could still get arrested... dont get me wrong, im not a cop or an attorney, but seems like you would have to answer the questions if you were the suspect or simply tell the cop to arrest you and call your attorney...

I think both parties could have dealt with it differently. I don't think an arrest was in order. I also know that if I'm at home and a cop comes to my door asking me to prove that I live there or show ID, my first reaction is to be offended and pissed. This is especially true when there is no evidence of burglary, just a statement by a neighbor.

True, but there was evidence of burglary and they were there on a felony call... I think the professor got arrested because he showed out enough to piss the cop off, which in itself isnt illegal( i hope, ive pissed a few off). you know thinkin about it, you cant just drive off when you get pulled over, so how could he justify walkin away while the cops there investigating a felony report? both parties could have dealt with it differently, but the cop wasnt in the wrong here imo....

I don't believe that's correct. As far as I know a person does not have to respond to police questioning, otherwise police could simply walk up to the odd man on the street and start asking him questions. Would you want to live in such a society? I know I wouldn't. Would you want to live in a neighbor hood where police regularly knock on your door to check up on things? I know I wouldn't.....

I wonder how quickly the officers will respond next time if there is truly a breakin' at this residence.

I am afraid the professor was not acting in his best interest.

I'll go out a limb and not only say that the cop seemed to be (mostly) in the right, but that the professor was out of line for screaming rascism. This was a case of two guys over-reacting (the cop trying to secure a potential crime scene and protect himself) and I don't think it had anything to do with race. My call is Obama might need to apologize for his statement and they all have a group hug.

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My mind tends to wander... but fortunately, it's so weak, it doesn't get very far...

I'm not sure if there is enough evidence to consider the man a suspect. After all houses do have residents, even ones that have been burglarized.

There is a big difference between being a suspect on the scene of a reported burglary and a cop coming up to me on the street asking questions....dont you think?? if a cop came up to me for no reason, he could piss off, but if he had a good reason, why not talk to him(especially if your innocent)... like i said, im no cop and you obviously arent either, so in the immortal words of Ron Burgandy, lets agree to disagree...

ps- I wouldnt like to get grilled cops, as I am not a huge fan of alot of them.

Dude- if someone calls the cops and says that 2 purple guys are breaking into a bank and you are at that bank, on the front porch, with a damaged door and you happen to be purple, the cop is going to consider you a suspect... period, there was probable cause for them to be suspects...if he would have cooperated, like he should have, the cops would have realized that this is his house, cased closed, etc....

Just a bunch of Liberal left wing zombie kool-aid drinking Olby loving propaganda and misinformation.

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"We must recognize the fact that adequate food is only the first requisite for life. For a decent and humane life we must also provide an opportunity for good education, remunerative employment, comfortable housing, good clothing and effective and compassionate medical care." Norman Borlaug

I knew that this was too much to ask for

The White House says President Barack Obama was not calling a Cambridge, Mass., police officer stupid when he criticized last week’s arrest of black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. …
On Wednesday Obama said the police “acted stupidly” when they arrested Gates even after it was clear that he was not a burglary suspect. Gibbs said that Obama did not regret the remark, but wanted to clarify that he was not calling the arresting officer stupid.

I think one's experience has a lot to do with his or her reaction. There was a time when I believed, because that is what I was taught by my very law abiding parents, that the police were all "Officer Friendly" and they were there to protect me from the "bad guys"

When I had my child, I taught him the same thing. Then, over the years I had a series of "incidents" that changed my thought process.

I came to realize that there are many people in law enforcement who hold very intense biases against certain people: blacks, Hispanics, whom they see as illegal immigrants, women and teenagers.There are tons of studies that show this is the case.

If one has never had a bad experience, then one tends to dismiss the issue; I have come to believe that many of the problems arise from what one of my professors years ago called, "non-conciousness"--people are often not even aware of the prejudice they carry. And, then, there are some who put on a uniform and a gun and become a "real jerk"..

When my son was 13 years old, he came home after school and was there by himself for two hours before I got off work. We lived in the city and I had a security system in the house. That particular system had a silent alarm button that indicated that someone who was in the house, and who had the password, was in distress and needed help.

The monitoring system called the police--gave them the information that someone who was in the house with the password had signaled for help; they then called the EMS and gave them the same information; and then they called me. As it turned out, I had just left my office, which was three blocks from my house; and gotten into my car to drive to a meeting. So, fortunately, I was able to get to my house just after the police officers did; and even before the EMS.

When I pulled my car into the drive way, there was a police car in the drive with its lights flashing--when I got to the door, I saw two policemen, each over 6 ft tall, holding my son with his hands behind his back, and his neck pulled back. He was completely bewildered: I had taught him it was okay to open the door to a policeman --and he had. He had no idea that he had mistakenly pushed the silent panic button--he had no idea what the cops were doing there, and certainly had no idea why the cops grabbed him and were holding him in a armlock--he was in his own home!

I had to scream and physically grab the officers hands off my son--I thought they were going to arrest me!

All of this, because my son had innocently hit a panic button--the cops had been told that someone in the house was in distress and needed help! yet, they grabbed the teenager who opened the door for them., and decided he was a criminal.

Needless to say, I was furious. What would have happened if he had needed help....

I took the issue all the way to the Mayor and would have gone further if needed. The Chief of Police came to my house and apologized to my son and me and had those two officers write to him and apologize. I appreciated that, but needless to say, my feelings about law enforcement have never been the same. There have been other incidents --much more minor -- when I felt disrespected just because I am female; and treated as though I was guilty of something without the least bit of evidence to support that...and, I am a Grandma -- my nieces and other female friends have experienced worse treatment.

I have come to believe that training has something to do with the problem. I do not think it is productive to see everyone as a criminal, but I do realize that the police have a very difficult job to do--it just seems as though there must be a better way to both protect the citizens and take care of the ones who are breaking the laws.

Maybe the fact that this happened to Professor Gates will have a positive effect by everyone talking about it more...

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

What? We don't have a racism czar?

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2. Don't confuse having less with being less, having more with being more, or what you have with who you are. Noah benShea

I just saw a headline that said the officer has told President Obama to butt out.

We always want the police to understand what's "really" going on and we always want them to be there when something that shouldn't be going on is.

Police are stuck between a rock and hard place 100% of the time. That's why we as citizens have a responsibility to always give them the benefit of the doubt and do our best to work with them within the confines of the rules they must follow.

who do you think wrote the arrest reports?

Thats a really good question.... my guess is obama?? no, really, my real guess is the cop.... and yes, cops are really good at writing reports.... still witnesses say the good prof. was showing his hiney....so, maybe he shouldnt have.... he also said he talked about his momma??? thats bs man, leave the mommas out....

Agreed, on both points... and thank you for sharing your story.

I too have had mostly very positive experiences with police officers, but have witnessed a few very negative ones which have tinged my opinion and awareness. I think perhaps some of the most important training an officer can receive is in how to remain calm and defuse a tense situation that has the potential to quickly escalate out of control. I know that this is an incredibly difficult skill to master for most people, and that if I were required to do it at the same level as a police officer, I would fail.

Mr. Gates did fail in that capacity, but in my opinion, the onus was not on him to defuse the situation - it was the responsibility of the officer. Mr. Gates repeatedly asked the officer for his name and badge number, as is his right, and the officer did not respond. Mr. Gates also intensified the situation by repeatedly stating that he was being persecuted for being a black man in America, and that the officer clearly didn't know who he was. None of these responses on Mr. Gates part were wise, or rational, but he was also a man being threatened in his own home for doing nothing wrong, and I am sure he was scared, and upset, and tired. It was the responsibility of the officer to take all of these into account, be the bigger man that he, as a public servant, is paid to be, and let it go. Instead, he let himself get angry and defensive, and threatened arrest, and then had to save face by following through on his threat. It was a stupid act... they both were acting stupid, but the officer had all of the power in that situation, is a paid public servant, and therefore I expect more from him. I expect him to be the one to suck it up, apologize, and go on with his day.

Scenario:
A resident of Blue Mountain Beach is sitting on his sandy gulf-front private property, when a family of tourists parks themselves on his beach. Arguments ensue, and the police are called. The resident, being angry and belligerent, yells, accuses the police of discrimination and not honoring his rights as a property owner, and a crowd gathers to witness the angry resident causing a disturbance. The police ask him to calm down, and show proof of his property line. He does not calm down, but does show proof, and the police arrest him anyway, because he was causing a public disturbance.

Stupid? You betcha. But it could totally happen. I wonder how the responses would be different in that scenario...

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"My life has been a huge adventure, always. I like them bold, I'm done with creepy." - Seagrovegirl

It's 2009 and it still sucks to be Black in America.

Let's boil it down so we can stop flogging this dead horse...

I wasn't there. None of you were there. Obama wasn't there. None of us have any kind of say so as to what went down, how it went down, and what was right or wrong. We're getting our news from outlets that may or may not be 100% accurate. Let it go.

BTW...why did Obama key in on this and TOTALLY ignore the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has been the deadliest month of '09 for our troops, and he chose to admonish a cop when he admittedly didn't have the fact. Good Lord...our priorities are way out of whack...

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