Get real! They could have probably fed a family of ten for six months on what it cost.

Rick, I'm with you. The report findings are common sense, which the vast majority of us knew from the get-go. We didn't need to waste money to discover what was already in front of our faces.

It doesn't say who did the investigation, I bet the state or federal govt. paid for this. Please stop wasting money!

And I agree with everyone else, THE NEW FORMAT STINKS! NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL!!!!!

Why is it so hard for some people to understand that when a police officer asks you to do something, you do it. Cooperation is all they ask for. Are there some bad cops, of course. Most often though it's the suspect who escalates the situation. This ivory tower prof has a chip on his shoulder and was looking for a fight.

And I agree with everyone else, THE NEW FORMAT STINKS! NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL!!!!!

It sounds like both of these men are "hard headed." Some law enforcement officers think the badge means unlimited power, and some citizens think they are above the laws. Hence this nice little spat.

It's pretty high society to get invited to the White House for a beer!

1. How many time have we heard, " Where are the police when we need them ?

2. How many times have we heard when they are there and it doesn't go your way, they are abusing their power?

3. They responded to a complaint and are confronted by belligerent people or person, what do you expect them to do? Walk away and say I am sorry I respond to a complaint ?

4. You many think that a police sergeant would have better knowledge of how to defuse a situation? And they do, unless the other person is just out right disrespectful. Oh right! I am so sorry I troubled you with my presence??

5 By the same token , I would also have expected an educated individual at the level that Gates is , would have at least some common sense as to how to deal with a police officer , like with a bit of respect ?

6. I feel that the beer party and this investigation , which was already conducted by the police dept, had to be re-investigated. and was a waste of Presidential time and micro-management and money. He ( the President should never had made a public comment on the issue) he threw gas on a fire.

7. Why is this still news anyway ????

And I also dislike the new format!!!!!!

As a woman, I would like to say both men were in the wrong, of course NEITHER will ever admit it!! I can understand the police officer's frustration in the face of the man's attitude ....and I can understand the man's attitude about being investigated at his own residence. Let's face it, they BOTH wanted to be large and in charge... and neither was willing to give an inch!

While I didn't agree with the President's comment I also realize that he has a much different perspective on this matter, and no matter how much progress we have made, that race issues will sometimes arise. It sounds like my initial suspicions were correct that this was a situation that could have and should have been avoided and both the Professor and Police Officer share in the blame for this incident. What is important as we move forward is that others learn from the bad example of both of these individuals. If your house has been vacant and there's someone stirring about the place your neighbors may well call the Police. If you are an Officer and you arrive and the "suspicious person" doesn't attempt to flee but rather tells you he owns the house there's a really good chance he does!!!

The arrest was very avoidable and therefore, as the President said, stupid. Perhaps neither man handled themselves perfectly, but only one was arrested. The officer felt that it was necessary to arrest a man after it was determined that he appeared to be breaking into his own home. What was the purpose of the arrest other than the police officer demonstrating that he was in charge. Stupid!

Exactly Don. Its too bad that so many times these officers wanting to demonstrate that they are in control wind up costing the taxpayers with lawsuits and settlements. The past two years alone here in Seattle and King County have costed over 50 MILLION in settlements.

Thanks to video cameras catching them over and over proving exessive force and violation of rights. Your Tax dollars are being filtered without your knowledge in most cases. Just quiet settlements because of officers with not much more than a high school education. They dont even know the law they are supposed to uphold.

Its disgraceful. No trust or confidence at all. I always thought when an officer lied on a report it was like lying under oath. Apparently not. The officers isnt punished, the taxpayers is.

For his part, Gates could have used a more respectful tone to address the officer.

What!? Someone comes into your home, uninvited, and starts ordering you around, and you need to be more respectful.

"Disorderly Conduct" is one of the catch-all laws police use when they can't find anything else. Actually, Gates was arrested for an POAC--"Pissing Off A Cop;" or the more aggravated case of POACwB--"Pissing Off A Cop while Black."

Only in Boston. All this does is re-enforce the mid-set that it's okay to disobey an officer's commands. That's bad news.

Stay calm, obey the officer's commands, and take the necessary actions AFTER the event. That's how you handle it.

That jackass from Harvard with the holier-than-thou attitude was just itching for a fight to try to substantiate his racist Harvard curriculum.

All of this just amazes me. The police have to make life and death decisions in split seconds and so, yes, they do sometimes make a wrong judgement. So until you have walked in a policeman's shoes please don't judge. I find it interesting that you want the cops there when you think you need them but then want to be able to tell them what to do. Wow, what good is law enforcement if they aren't in charge. Both men were wrong in somethings but as usual neither will admit they were wrong about anything. I just wish one of them was big enough to say "I'm sorry I had a confrontation with you." That way they are never admitting they were wrong just sorry for a confrontation.

As far as "Mr." Obama's remarks he was flat out wrong saying anything. He seems to have turned that over the the VP now and he is up holding the record for both of them. Now before you all start yelling at me I personally think ALL politicians have become big mouths and all of them should shut up and listen. None of them listen to anyone or anything any more. They all think they are above the law and that is scarey.

Only in Boston. All this does is re-enforce the mid-set that it's okay to disobey an officer's commands. That's bad news

I'm sorry, in my Constitutional studies, I never saw a "thou must obey a police officer at all times" clause. This isn't a police state and police aren't appointed over the citizens. That sounds a little autocratic to me -- kind of like the communists (for those left wing bashers) or the fascists (for those right wing bashers).

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of a police force and I have friends who are cops -- quite a few in fact. But even some of them admit cops can go overboard at times. It's a high pressure job.

In this country we should not have to view a police officer with fear -- but most of us do. For example, how often does your heart beat just a bit faster when you see a cop on the Interstate, even when your cruise is set precisely on the correct speed limit?

Both of these guys were out of line. Gates did not have to "obey", but he needed to be polite. The cop didn't need to assume Gates was a criminal. He also needed to be polite.

Politeness -- what a concept!

Me too!

I have read all the pro and con posts so far, not saying any are right or wrong But,

Come on now , regardless what I said in my 1 st post If President Obama had just simple not made any comment, this story from the get go would never have made national news much less even in the classified sections. Just an observation not questioning as to the why he said anything

what a crock of steaming crap.... who cares for starters? 2nd, if the smart man, would have shown his id, as asked for orginally, instead of making it a deal about race, it would have never even made the news....maybe that was what the goal was, because if i had to "force my way" into my own place, and the cops were called due to that effect, i would have gladly shown the proof i needed to make the situation be nothing more than a routine situation, and everyone on their way, happy as a little clam... but no, look at the moron, and its still in the news a yr later. some people need to get over themselves and realise because they are smart black people, white cops still have a job to do, one being protect sry ass's like this one.

Both of these men were on ego trips and wouldn't give an inch. Black or white, I've known both professors and law officers with this kind of arrogance. Either one of them could have been reasonable and the whole thing would have never happened.

I do find myself curious if the roles were reversed, a black cop and a white professor... I'm a white woman with no axes to grind, just an interesting thought. Be honest with yourself. Would your reaction be different to the entire incident?

I'm sorry, in my Constitutional studies, I never saw a "thou must obey a police officer at all times" clause

The last time I heard, it's illegal to disobey the instructions of a police officer. But if you want to argue your case before the Supreme Court, go for it.

Brian---I am wondering if you read the article? When a cop asks you to do something, you do it...no arguement there you better do it or be ready for something bad to happen to you.

This guy did that, the cop asked for proof of identification, he provided it, and the cop didn't believe he was who he said and proved he was. Granted the guy, a Harvard scholar, should not have reacted like a 10 year old whose mom said no you cant have that toy. But he did what he was asked

Allen

You heard wrong. Citizens have the responsibility to obey the law and law enforcement officers have a responsibility to uphold the law. There are instructions that we must obey and instructions that should be ignored. I know of no law that requires citizens to do everything a police officer say to do. This is not a police state and police have an obligation preserve citizens' rights and within their training when they order citizens to do anything.

Because just like anything, police can be wrong. I see where they gave a grandmothered $40, 000 after the police tasered her for slapping him but nobody seemed concerned that a grandmother was shot and killed by the police. Guess what the difference was? I wish you understood but I see you don't care to even try. It was a waste of money but hey that's what we do. It was a waste of time and resources to arrest a man on his front porch after you knew the home belonged to him and don't give me the line about what had to be done. Police are trained to use discretion. Did you see the pictures? There were at least 5 of our finest there arresting a 70 some year old man and a White House summit because the President called the situation what it was - stupid and poor judgment. Give me a break.

Why is it so hard for some people to understand that when a police officer asks you to do something, you do it.

Perhaps it is because a free citizen does not have to do whatever a police officer asks. If a police officer asks you to do something, ask him/her if you are under arrest. If they ask you to take a field sobriety test, ask if you are under arrest. If they ask to look in your trunk or your backpack, ask if you are under arrest. If they ask to come into your house or apartment, ask if they have a warrant. And if they say no you are not under arrest, then say no. Get it?

Fool,

You are correct, you do not have to obey an officer. You have a choice. However, your choice has consequences. No I do not want to take field sobriety test, you go down to the station and provide breath/blood sample (law). You can still say NO, again your choice. Automatic driving suspension and you can still be court ordered to provide sample. If you have nothing to hide or fear, why create a situation when there is none.

Someone eluded to the issue of high stress position and situations. Until you have responded to countless calls ranging from gun shots to kids with scraped knees and have had a seamingly innocence situation explode in a manner of seconds, then and only then can you start to question how an officer reacts or whether or not you should follow the directions of the officer.

To ANDYBLUE;

With the number of peace officers being killed while trying to protect the citizens of these United States not to mention the number of officers killed in the very counties you mentioned and in the state of Washington, one would think that law abiding citizens would be sick to know that folks have the attitude they do about obeying the law and the directions of those folks who put their lives on the line each and every day to uphold it.

As with any group there are the minorities that take advantage of their position, it is an unfortunate aspect of human frality. And the actions of these minorities should never be acceptable.

Just my nickles worth.

If the arresting officer has "probable cause" to search you, your baggage, or your home, they MAY do so, if they firmly believe that the life of anyone maybe in danger. Most of what they find is inadmissable in court because, they did not have a warrant. But that is neither the officer arguement, or the arguement of a private citizen. That arguement is at the discretion of THE JUDGE. If the judge finds that the officer had probable cause without warrant, then your @!$%# out of luck as a private citizen shouting, "what about my rights." If a gun was found in your backpack, because the officers department received warning that a man fitting the description of a person who was reported that will cause harm, the officer had probable cause.

If an officer goes to a house of a known drug dealer, but does not have a warrant, does not have probably cause.

Probable cause laws are different from state to state, and from federal to state level law, all depending on the judge that presides over the local bench. And lawyers on both sides get miffed because there isn't all one all catchall, except the constitution, and they will both cite precidents from previous convictions. But the interpretation of those precidents does reside with the judge.

Oh, and a person can be "held" for no more than 24 hours. If after 24 hours, an individual has not been formerly charged with a crime, that person is free to go. That 24 hours allows the officer to make any search for available information on the subject. Because it usually takes 24 hours, depending on which database they use to figure out who you are who you say you are.

For example a decade ago in Oregon, we had "suspicious activity" at a house that was reported by the neighbor. Cops go out and there is a moving van with a couple guys moving stuff out. Cop asks if they live there, one of them says yes, and that his friend is helping him move. Cop asks for ID showing his current residence. Guy pulls out a drivers license with a taped on address showing the address at their current location. Cop says he's sorry to have bothered them and drives off.

A week later the cops were called back to the residence. Turns out the home was burglarized while the real occupants were on vacation. The thieves were caught because the guy actually used his real name and drivers license number....and the officer had written down that information.

So just because someone does live in the residence, does not mean they actually do. Even if they showed photo ID, stating that was the persons current domicile.

There are two things both men could have done. One, the arresting officer could have called the Harvard offices for a brief description of the person, or checked the local DMV offices with the picture of the guy on file. Two, the professor could have not made the remark that the officer was an arresting, "racist". Using the word racist usually sends up red flags to an arresting officer that the "perpetrator" is trying to pull a fast con to get out of being arrested. Because if you bring up the word, "racist", well that should automatically get you off the hook? Right? No. To most officers of the law, the minute you use the word racist, your usually trying to cover up the act of a crime by hiding behind the threat that the officer will be reprimanded. And most cops see the use of the 'racist' card as a verbal threat.

One, the officer had tools at his disposal to verify the claim of the man being the occupant of the house. He did not use those tools.

Two, the professor starting throwing out verbal detrimental language towards the officer in question. The professor should have remained calm, and immediately and politely answered all of the officers questions, without dispute.

Chances are the offending officer wanted to bring the man in for "questioning", in which case the professor would have been released soon after his identify had been confirmed.

You know...this is common law practice by police. You think automatically your being arrested? No, they can hold you over, and that's it. There is paperwork naming names, but nothing that shows up on any record showing a crime has been committed.

Now i've been stopped by police like maybe two or three times. One of those times, because someone who had commited a crime actually fit my description. I was with a friend, and we both answered the officers questions politely, and not once did we raise our voices or tell the officer to bug off or find real criminals. Politeness actually goes a long way. If the officer had asked me to come with him to answer questions at the station, I would have gone, because he's doing his job. To many criminals have gotten away with theft, murder, rape, because the officer didn't take them into custody when they had a chance.

Sort of like, "Hey man, i'm being discriminated against, because i'm black jewish anglo saxon mexican!" So? This means the officer shouldn't check out your story while your in TEMPORARY custody?

The problem arose (not arised, please) from a tired, older, black, Ivy league professor with an attitude being confronted by a white, less educated law officer with an attitude. Either man could have diffused the situation, but neither did. I put more responsibility on the officer (though arrogant professors are annoying as hell). The officer was doing his job and part of his job is to keep the peace, not create a worse situation.

The reason for more recommendations for the police than for the public is because police are more likely than others to run into these situations more than once. It's not reasonable to expect an officer to act a certain way if he hasn't been trained to respond that way. This is part of their job. Training the entire public? Be real.

...and a dumber before him, twice. Go figure how absurdo that is.

If you were a black man and had had negative dealings with the Police or seen examples of Police racism your perspective would be completely different than a white person (even if that impression of racist police was no longer valid for the overwhelming majority of Police officers and departments) . I didn't agree with the President's initial statement but I also have to say that there's not much of a story here. I don't have any issue with the "beer summit" it was a creative approach to try and resolve a bad situation. Hell,I'd like to see more of that kind of thinking from the President!! I'll stick with criticizing "Capt. Kick Ass" on legitimate points and let small stuff like this go!!

you forgot the slickster willie......still two, sorta, in a row. History will be kind to Bush, but clinton & his boy obama will not be looked upon so good, unless they re-write history/

King David...History will never be kind to Bush. Not unless there's a government takeover by the right wing neoconservatives who then burn every negative fact of Bush and Cheney's ludricous Texification of this country. Didn't work, did it?

And, some of us have no intentions of allowing the right wing to reinvent autocracy and plutocracy to resemble democracy. There's nothing wrong with this president that your genius couldn't have taken a few pages from the Obama book.

I think it's time somebody did! You sir; are the fool!!!!!

Yes, you are a fool.

What an ignorant comment. The "beer summit" involved ONE Black man, ONE White man, and ONE half-white & half-black man. So tell us, Einstein, where is the protecting of the Black man in this situation?

I appreciated Obama's efforts to soothe the situation. I believe he tried to show that if we sit down and talk reasonably, we really can respect each other. I think both of these men know that they handled the situation wrong, but are too proud then and now to admit it. They're both moving forward (even as friends perhaps), it's time the rest of us do too. I don't think they would have reached that point without the highly criticized and ridiculed beer summit.

I was in the United States Armed forces when I received my first does of racism. A corporal (of african american descent), was ordered by the company sergeant (also of african american descent) to change the tire on one of our 5-ton vehicles. I hadn't known at that time. Corporal comes up to me, and tells me to change the tire on the vehicles, of course i'm a private he's a corporal. I go to the vehicles and get everything ready, and ask for the corporals help. Immediately he starts bitching me out, telling me he's not my slave, and that my ass would be in a sling if i don't double time on the tire. I told him calmly and politely, that regulations dictate 2 to 3 bodies of men should change the tire for safety reasons.

Of course the corporal was being very loud, beligerant, and the sergeant came over and asked what the hell was going on. Corporal told the sergeant i was being disrespectful and said, "this little cracker white boy thinks he can order me around." Sergeant looks down at me and asks "is this true?"

And I said, POLITELY, no. "Safety manual states two or three bodies are needed to properly refit the tire on the vehicle, all I asked was for his help." And immedialy impolitely started calling me some very deragotry racial names. Lets just say, one's own tone of voice and being patient put me on the good side with the sergeant. The corporal was admonished, told he had been warned about his racial bull@!$%# in the past, and that he would receive a general discharge from the armed forces. I never did see the guy again after that day.

And all I asked was help to change a tire. And because of that, a black man called a white man, a slaver driving cracker white boy.

Racial bull@!$%# goes both ways ladies and gentleman. Even white people get discriminated against.

Prejudice does go both ways. With that said, I don't think any minority group can be labeled a racist. No matter how much a Chinese, African, Native American, Black American or whoever else calls a European American some racial slur, it doesn't hold any weight. Black people and other minorities don't have enough power to oppress. Their racial epithets might be heard, but it will not stop a white person from getting a job or getting into that college.

common tactic used by police to try and reinforce their own belief that they are in charge of any situation. An intelligent person not easily intimidated will throw most cops into a panic.

There are a lot of "intelligent" people in prison. Also, not one of them is guilty of anything. Just ask any of them...They will tell you so!

Cop probably should have just punched him in the face?

kpo

I don't get your point. Is it because some people that are in prison are intelligent and also guilty that everything the police do should be tolerated? Professor Gates was not guilty of anything, but he was arrested by a cop showing that he was in charge. Now he is famous for being wrong.

He was guilty of disorderly conduct.

frezfram...Cops in small towns are more likely to be bully boys than those in large inner cities where gangbangers outnumber them. The thing that bothers me is how this cop didn't know the face and the residence. A lot of cops are trained to know "how to deal" with those they resent most. It's done all the time in small towns. You don't like your neighbor's kid who has long hair so you put him under a microscope and the minute he's doing what a cop considers "suspect", the cop is ready to pounce.

Gates gave this cop identification. That's all the cop needed. He should have backed off and apologized.

Point is and if you read the quote this post suggests that you can be smarter than the cop and therefore in control of the outcome. (Make the cop panic and not you.) I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone to panic that has a gun and the authority to arrest me.

Cops are human and cops get it wrong a lot. Just as civilians do. However, they are a symbol of federal, state or municipal authority and when certain situations arise they have not a right but an obligation to exercise that authority. They derive their power from the executive branch of Federal, state and local municipality's constitutions and/or charters. You have to respect that authority and cooperate until you are released and/or can seek legal council. If you have ever served a day in the military you will find the same environment involving the position and authority of rank in the military code of conduct.

Gates was arrested for cursing and making racial remarks to the cop. This was withnessed by another officer who justy so happened to be an African-American. Both officers filed it in their police report and the lady among others who was walking down the street and reported a possible break in substantiated the police statements.

Point is that if a cop pulls me over for suspicion for DUI, lets say, and it turns out that the stop was without cause then that doesn't privilege me to become hostile towards the cop. If I have a beef with the officer, then I get his name and badge and file a complaint or hire a lawyer. Justice will usually take its course. I say usually because Lady Justice isn't perfect; however, our society must have something other than mobb rule!

kpokeefe...In matters of law enforcement, I don't want to have to be smarter than a cop. I want the cop to be smart enough to read an ID and know when to back off. To pursue an issue after it's moot point, has all the earmarks of a cop who isn't ready to be on the force.

frezfram...Or, as I once did, make them look as stupid as they act --in a court of law. I refused to plead guilty to a traffic ticket that was bogus and totally invented by a rookie. They played all the cop games for 6 months with me trying to intimidate me into pleading guilty when I knew for certain I wasn't. I waited patiently and then like the Scorpion I am, pounced in court. I had all the records of the number of bogus tickets a cop had given in less than 2 hours - a total of 10 plus the data from his computer which was clearly altered. What did they do when he lost that one? He was put on "sick leave". Sorry, I don't plead guilty when I'm anything but.

Pretty sure the ID was just a harvard ID not a driver's license or anything which would show address. I'm sure if Gates had been calm instead of abusive, this never would have happened. And he was arrested for disorderly conduct not breaking and entering so whether he lived there or not was immaterial.

seriously...Unless Harvard has changed much from other colleges, for more than 2 decades, staff have to have photo IDs. It's a requirement for security as much as for ID purposes.

kpokeefe...In matters of law enforcement, I don't want to have to be smarter than a cop.

My point exactly! Don't try to be. Answer the questions or if you feel something you might say will incriminate you then say, "I need to speak with a lawyer" and shut up! Don't back talk, smart mouth, make obscene gestures or do anything provoking and you should be fine!

To pursue an issue after it's moot point, has all the earmarks of a cop who isn't ready to be on the force.

Unless you provoke another "point" as Mr Gates clearly did! In the military they say, You don't salute the man. You salute the rank." In this case, Mr Gates should have respected the authority of the uniform in performing the public service obligated to it. I'm sure if Mr Gates had said, "Officer thank you for checking up on my residence." It would have all been over. But, Gates tried to turn an officer doing his job into a hostile racial conflict (lynching I recall him calling it) and it cost him a little time downtown, but he got to appear on TV and to drink beer at the Whitehouse so it all worked out beautifully for him.

frezfram is an idoit. It is obvious that he never has lived a moment in a law enforcement officers shoes. He probably thinks that police should be hunting "real criminals" instead of pulling him over for speeding. How many criminals have ever showed a fake ID or lied to a police officer to try and get away. If this nut of a professor didn't have a racial attitude, he could have helped get this solved easier. If a criminal planned a buglary and showed a fake id with a good story and the officer had left, then the professor would have been up in arms on how easily the cops ahd been fooled.

"An intelligent person not easily intimidated will throw most cops into a panic."

-- To be able to make such an unintelligent, uneducated, and stereotypical generalization, it is very clear that you are not one of those people you refer to, intimidated or not...

ewent

Oh! Photo ID! That makes it alright then. I'm sure it says right there on the Harvard card, "this man is Henry Louis Gates, professor at Harvard and therefore entitled to act belligerently and abusively in any situation." It should have said, " this man is a racial agitator and knows Obama so watch out"

cbretana,

Why are you trying to characterize the remark as unintelligent or otherwise wrong? I have seen instances of police officers trying to leverage their authority to intimidate when the situation clearly did not call for it, and one of the things I've seen that most rattles police officers who do this is someone who is sufficiently well-informed to know the limits of the officer's authority. Since charges against Gates were dropped in this case (and let's not kid ourselves - if the officers had had a shred of a case, they'd have pressed it), it seems even more clear in retrospect than it did at the time that this officer was out of control. Had he been in control, he could have brought down the level of tension, but he chose to resort to pure physicality, arrested a man in his own home, and basically embarrassed himself and his department.

I'm willing to bet that Gates also wishes he had handled it a bit better now as well, so he'd be entitled to sue. If I were arrested for breaking into my own home after showing ID, that's where I'd want to be.

I'm fully behind those officers who are doing their jobs, as I know it's a tough one, but using convoluted arguments to try and convince anyone that the rotten apples are not the source of the stench does us all a disservice. Promoting even more widespread abuse of authority after all that we've already endured is a non-starter.

seriously...Unless Harvard has changed much from other colleges, for more than 2 decades, staff have to have photo IDs. It's a requirement for security as much as for ID purposes.

Whether or not it was a photo ID is irrelevant. If it didn't have an address on it, the officer would have no way of knowing if Gates actually DID live at the house.

An intelligent person not easily intimidated will throw most cops into a panic.

If Gates is so intelligent, why did he think it was a good idea to start making racist remarks when the officer was in the process of leaving the house? Bottom line - neither man handled the situation well.

Gates asked Sgt. Crowley to call the Harvard cops, since the chief knew him personally. Crowley chose not to do that, so this isn't a question about the "quality" of the ID Gates had available. This was simply a case of abuse of authority, as the officer has the principle responsibility of deescalating any conflict.

Vicki...Sorry You are wrong. Professor Gates wasn't some unrecognizable guy no one would know. Gates lived in an exclusive neighborhood that was occupied largely by the Harvard professors. Duh....If this stupid cop didn't bother to check the name on the residence before he paraded himself so brazenly at the door, he'd have known Gates lived there.

Gates isn't just known in his little neck of the woods. He has been a public figure for more than 2 decades. What kind of dope would a cop have to be not to know who Gates is?

seriously...You are wrong. If you were correct, why did most of the states go to photo ID for drivers licenses? Why do they insist we take a day off from work to sit in a Motor Vehicle office just to get those stupid photos updated as a part of the Bush plan of "national security"? Get a clue would you?

kpokeefe...

It's funny how everyone (especially the media) is focusing in that this is a race relation. Race and ethnicity would have NEVER come into play if the officer would have done his job the way he was/should have been trained. An officer's job by LAW is to deescalate situations. It doesn't matter how rude, obnoxious, pompous, defensive Dr. Gates was... See More...especially on private property. After ID was provided (which is required by law) it wasn't up to the officer to say I don't believe this is your house. After Gates proved that he belong there, the officer should have left him in his house cursing and flipping birds to himself.

Also, you relate this situation to how the military handles things by saluting the rank and not the person. Well this happened in Gates' home, not Fort Bragg or Redstone Arsenal. Military decorum doesn't apply here.

The reality of the situation is that despite being shown 2 or 3 pieces of valid Identification (WITH photo AND address clearly shown on that ID), and after being advised that the Harvard Police could help with further identification, if necessary, this officer STILL would not accept that this small, handicapped black man lived in that exclusive gated community in his own house. The woman who called the police NEVER indicated the race of the people she was calling about. She also stated that she didn't know whether this was a break-in or simply someone having a hard time getting his door open. Professor Gates had his suitcase (full of clothes and toiletries) with him - an object I am pretty sure burglars do not bring along to rob houses. Once the Professor showed his ID, the officer should have said, thanks and left. I am betting that the color of the Professor's skin played a definite part in this. This officer had numerous ways to confirm Gates' ID if he found his driver's license and Harvard photo ID to be insufficient, he just chose not to utilize them, but honestly, if this had happened to me, and I had shown ID in my own home and still been distrusted, I would have been pretty angry too. Of course, as a white woman, my guess is I would not have needed more than those 2 pieces of ID. We can say all we want about cops having a tough job and many of them being true "good guys" but there is a lot of racism in the USA, and to think cops are not racist is just plain wrong. I think the "report" is just a way to let the cop off the hook - this officer behaved like an ego-driven little boy determined to degrade and humiliate an "uppity" black man who did not treat him with deference. Could Gates have handled things better? Sure, but I bet a black man of his age who has worked for so many years to achieve his status, who has seen a lot of prejudice in his life, who had just returned from a trip to find his front door jammed and is now confronted by an officer who does not accept that he could actually be the resident of such a nice house, was so insulted and angry that he told it like he saw it. Considering that we say "A man's home is his castle" and that there is no law preventing him from cursing in that home, I think the police officer overreacted and should have been reprimanded accordingly. Gates is a public figure, and the public will judge him as they see fit - choosing to fire him, or see him as a hero, or anything in-between, but a police officer who cannot control his temper in the face of a little trash talk is a potential menace to society.

"out-dated catch phrase, racial profiling" Hmmm...where do you live bro?

The fact that Obama went to Harvard has nothing to do with him inviting Gates and the police officer to the White House. There was a misunderstanding between a distinguished scholar and the police and the matter had to be dealt with in a public way in order to move on. Who better to do this than a black president who is still being called the n-word in public forums by both politicians and public alike.

You think "racial profiling is an out-dated phrase? Try to spend a day in my shoes. And that is nothing compared to what the kids and adults that I grew up amongst have to deal with.

Here, at least, this story was told because it did involve someone our society holds, and should hold in high esteem. For others, they are not so lucky. This is not a form of me bashing the police. And yes, often times those arrested are arrested for a reason. But we have a deep history in situations similar to these that continues to evolve in our present and that has to be remedied in any way possible.

Harvard lost it's mythical image when they gave a degree to Bubba Bush.

Really, you honestly think that Obama should have invited them to the White House - I wonder if that would have come to pass had the Professor been white.

As a tax payer, I would hope Obama had better things to do - he never should have injected himself into the situation.

SecondSight...Not provable? You don't live in NJ do you? About 10 years ago, the racial profiling by state cops was so bad that it went to the state's supreme court.

Profiling is not only the domain of cops. It's the domain of thugs as well. It's why gay men and women and minorities are often killed....they fit a profile that the killer hates.

"The fact that Obama went to Harvard has nothing to do with him inviting Gates and the police officer to the White House. There was a misunderstanding between a distinguished scholar and the police and the matter had to be dealt with in a public way in order to move on. Who better to do this than a black president who is still being called the n-word in public forums by both politicians and public alike."

The reason it had to dealt with by NObama had nothing to do with the two individuals, it had everything to do with Nobama putting foot in mouth when his comments concerning the situation were taken as an observation, by NObama, that white police officers are racist. Nobama should have kept his damn mouth shut and let the investigation into the incident play out.

eyeroll....Bush went to Harvard...That's where he got his...snort, snort...gag gag...MBA.

Or at the very least...a beer. I wonder what this outstanding review cost the city? The fact that it actually took months to complete is really amazing. These same people expect a split second decision yet take 14 weeks to decide a simple fact.

R. Scalzo...It took this long for the cops to figure an easy out. The ramifications of making Gates innocent could mean a serious investigation into other police profiling.

PROFILING,is part of our job you moron.

thirdparty...Profiling is NOT part of a cop's job. In my state, you profile and you LOSE your job. According to your mindnumbing ideas, all white people should also be profiled according to nationality. Polish, Germans, Italians, Irish..those with southern drawls?

Actually, profiling is a useful tool in the fight against crime. Psychological profiles are used very often with serial criminals such as rapists and murderers.

I know that is is horrifying to think that we would profile crimes based on race, but what if some of it is true? For example, what if 90% of drug smugglers between Miami and New York are hispanics with Florida license plates on their cars, often driving north on I-95? If that were a fact (and I am not saying it is), why would we not use that information to reduce drug smuggling?

Jeff187...It's useful only if the cops who use it don't abuse it. That's exactly what happened here in NJ. We had state police pulling over any black guy who just happened to be driving through the state in a car the cops felt he shouldn't own. They would stop any black kids on their way to college classes. They would stop a black man driving alone at night on his way home from work. That's profiling.

Meanwhile, the profiling ended up costing these people money for lost time at their jobs just so some profiling fool got his jollies.

Missing: This arrest was made AFTER Gates showed the officer his Drivers license, and his college Id. Why was there any more need for any type of questioning? He showed he lived there and had a right to be there. But it seems to me like the officer pushed the problem. Was Gates wrong for how he acted, probably, but there was no reason for it to have come to that point.

Why don't you read the original commets by Gates. It statd he only showed hi University ID card, that is not proer ID. The proessor is a known racist and radical. Have you seen the signs he keeps on his lawn? Do you realize that he also attends theradical church Obama now stays far from because of the radical teachings there? Obama only wanted to push his weight and show that if any of HIS friends were ever arrested they would be set free and the officer no matter what happened could lose their career for just doing their job. I would never have gone for a Beer Summit, sounds like a place where I could be intimidated by the president himself and nobody would ever know. To much hypocrisy in this country. I also enjoy how little publicity was given to the Executive order in February about the WH endowement of $98 million to HBU Historically Black Colleges. What about the regular colleges where they have to accept everyone? Why did he not put it t a vote like the regular education bills? I say we start an all White college and dare any black to file lawsuit for discrimination since Black Universities can say only blacks.

Maybe all blacks deserve a check since they are the only people in this country that are entitled to special treatments at every turn. A life on Welfare is so wonderful that instead of working their is supposed to be more and more support for the lazy. Blacks are not the only ones, but I'll be danged if they are the only ones who just have to walk through the door and they get whatever they want.

End all public funded housing, food stamps, welfare, and all the other programs that were only for assistance not to make a living off of. If people want to stay living off others, then it should be from private funding not the US taxpayers. If youtoo all welfare recipients off that have been on since 2005, this country would save over $20 billion in the 1st year. If someone doesn't have the means to support a child don't have 5 or 6. Its not my problem to raise your kids.

Missing

What law do you think that Professor Gates thought he was above? It there a law against losing the key to your house? Do you really think that the "lime light" was foremost in his thoughts while the cop was hassling him after he had proven his identity and that he was at his own home? And your comment about how you would refuse to do your sworn duty if Professor Gates' home was broken into again demonstrates that, although you seem to take the law enforcement side of the issue right or wrong, you would be a very poor police officer. Guess what ..... cops are sworn to uphold the law even if they don't like the victim.

verno gates does not own the home,he gets free rent from the Harvard owned home,proof would take around 2 hours to declare gates to be legally in the home.GATES IN FACT COULD NOT PROVE HE BELONGED THEIR,A DRIVERS LICENSE IS NO PROOF of ownership of anything.HE should have just cuffed gates put him in the car,then called the Sargent at the desk,and he or she could have done the foot work.IN any police involvement, the safety of all involved is the first priority,especially on a 9-11 call. all agency's of every dept rules proceed with caution,weapons hot on a 9-11 call.

don...You're right but yu also missed the orinal comments made by Gates. He said all he showed was a FacultyID card, that does not show address. He also used this as a podium to trash the cops and even the old lady who never mention what race except to say he looked mexican. I would see his point better if he didn't use every tactic to trash the cop and mke him lose his career to further his own agenda. Maybe next time a cop goes to that heighborhood they only need to ask for University ID to prove someone breaking in a door lives at the residence. Of sourse you don't hear much about the black cop who was standing right there and Gates has never uttered a word about him, just his partner the white cop. Then his buddy Obama and former church member tries to use his enfluence and succeds. What a guy...all of 'em.

Missing...Gate provided his identification but the cop persisted. You are wrong.

ewent, your wrong. The policeman was LEAVING after checking the professors I.D.. The stupid professor was arrested for following the policeman back outside and yelling racist statements. If gates would have acted like an adult instead of a child, he never would have been arrested. It was GATES who persisted.

Forresta...Last time I checked, your property is your domain. You can turn the story around as much as you like. I'd be pretty angry if a cop refused to accept my photo ID after I invited him into my house and then attempted to arrest me. I'd be very careful of believing any police report. I've already had the pleasure of spending 6 months proving they can be altered and are a pack of lies.

Bright? How bright were the two Harvard professors (Psychology must less) that held a party for a large group and were astounded when they drank letting the event get out of hand.

Seems like a requirement for employment in that educational institution is a total lack of common sense.

Kevhouston--

The key phrase is "I am white." Being white we have no idea what it is like to be regularly profiled no matter who we are are. All you need is dark skin. I had a grad school adviser who was stopped by the police every time she drove into Wellesley, MA at night on her way to teach a course at Wellesley College. I have a daughter-in-law who has a PhD from Harvard in biology and she was told she didn't belong on a beach in the Boston area because of her color.

Unless we can walk a mile in their shoes we should be quiet. I think the police have a responsibility to tread softly with minorities, until they have the facts. This officer didn't give a hoot about the facts. He was just being the bully many , but not all cops are. The police work for the people and have a greater responsibility to be civil. It's pretty sad when a man gets arrested on his own property. Wouldn't have happened to a white man.

If you think the black man, hispanics... do not 'profile' the white man - THINK AGAIN! And why should minorities get 'special treatment' (tread softly). WE all are the same and should be treated the same.

I also dislike this new format

Greta...It is people like you who keep this country divided. Why should the white race be the only ones to tread lightly? That is a racial statement in in itself. Too many blacks keep a chip on their shoulder an treat whites like garbage then can't understand why they would getno respect. If someone calls me a cracker or whitey, do you actually think I'm going to tread lightly because of the skin color? Greta, come back to Earth. You want equality? Then don't ask for special treatment all the time.

Kev

If you arrest someone after they prove they they are not breaking the law you are probably not smart enough to be a police officer.

Kevhouston...I agree to an extent with going above the officer's head to his supervisor. However, police go through extensive training before they are allowed to do their jobs. This police officer was out of line. That Mason Dixon line down in the south continues to insist that black people have to say Yes Massa...No Massa...that's really what this officer was after.

If I provide correct identification and the officer continues to be obnoxious, I'd end all communication and then call not his supervisor but the state's highest Law Enforcement chief, followed by a letter requesting a copy to the police department involved. Cops consider themselves brothers. Reporting one at the local level does nothing. It's a comedy to them. And you get the worst of it with police harrassment afterward for months and years.

but were you in your own home and if you were an older black man who may have been descriminated by police more times than you could count during your life don't you think maybe you might believe it is happening again even when it might not be. white people do not get racially profiled so they can never understand

Well said, he might be paper smart (might) and worldly dumb. Just think he educates our future leaders, just how are they going to act?

I have no doubt the good profession earns every dime of his six figure salary. Due to his attitudes the county's youth is one big mess of losers.

Hopefully when a group of thugs is beating his ass while stealing his valuables, the responding officers will take a reserved attitude and not take any action for fear of offending someone.

Hopefully, he isn't Harvard's best because those late night on-line schools are starting to look better and better.

Newfoot: How was this a legitimate challenge? The office saw Gate's id and drivers license while inside the house that showed that Gates had a right to be there. Why did it go any further? What reason did the officer have for wanting any more infomation. What was his legitimate challenge?

Verno,

Just because Gates had ID and drivers licence DOES NOT give him the right to be in that house. I have an ID and Drivers licence yet I cannot enter my house at this time. The police officer may not have confirmed that Gates actually could be in the house!! For all the police knew he could have been stealing from his wife (if he had one). Wake up people!!!

Newgoof....The well educated professor did what the cop asked. He provided identification. The cop rejected it and made the decision to see how far he could push a black man so he could arrest him. Not because he was black...because he could prove he was smarter than the cop.

If you are standing on the steps of your home and forget your key and a cop stops you from entering, you show him identification. Was there something in this stupid cop's brain that didn't allow him to put the face to the IDs? If you are trying to tell me that a professor's ID card doesn't also have a photo on it, you'd be wrong. I taught at Rutgers part-time. You bet your boodle you had to have a photo ID.

Art...Oh puhlease...I've seen enough of the swagger swagger boom boom of cops to know that they love the rush of adrenalin they get from absolute authority. When they start talking to people like they are people and not children, life will be grand. And, they love to forget one thing: WE pay THEIR salaries.

Art...I'm not sure where behaving "unprofessional" is a crime or arrestable offense. If I can't behave anyway I want in my own house where I am breaking no laws, then where can I?

And I will have to agree with ewent here. It's not unheard of to be arrested for something that upsets the officer only to have the charges dropped. AFTER you've been cuffed, riden to the station and fingerprinted. My favorite is Obstruction Without Contact which is normally used when someone is verabally challenging the police. And yes, these are usually dropped but only after the speaker has been carted off.

I just read the 1st Amendment...I dont see the area that says you have a right or no obligation to be respectful to authority. Or are you the type of Moron that thinks it is ok to say anything...anywhere?

I have been a civil servant before and nowhere in my job description was it said I had to take unlimited abuse from the people I was assisting. As I pointed out in another post...these people put thier LIVES on the line for you and I. Is it too much to ask to be civil back to them? Or, Has our culture so degraded, that we feel the need to constantly berate those who serve us or use them for political talking points.

obviously you know less about the law than you know about being a police officer. by your own example of a citizen being abusive he is breaking the law it is call disorderly conduct, curse and abuse which is a form of assault and battery. get educated before you end up in front of the judge. i know when i was in law enforcement, i had no problem putting handcuffs on some loud mouth who refused to do as he was told. you know what, i never lost one of those case in court. so obviously the courts and judge DO believe that citizens have an obligation to show respect to the law enforcement officers who are protecting you as well as protecting themselves from ignorant unruly thugs, as you appear as a wanta be. good luck with your endeavors, try your disrespect to some law enforcement officer in your area, see what happens.

The first amendment does not say you have no obligation to treat the police with respect. That's ridiculous.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

What part says "abuse the police, it's OK"? I don't see it.

Uh, egm...you arrested someone for disorderly conduct in his own home, AFTER he had shown you his ID (like you asked) and you arbitrarily decided that the ID wasn't good enough? Also I can curse all I want in my house. Wearing the badge doesn't give you the right to decide you need to be in my house and determine I'm a liar. You'll notice the charges were dropped. I don't think the prosecuter agrees with you either.

And CKaster? Officers don't just risk their lives every day...they CHOOSE to. If they don't want that charge and don't know that some people will not be cowed by someone who feels they deserve respect becuase to their responsibilities then they probably shouldn't have the job.

CF....Baloney...In the neighborhood Gates lived in, he would have been one of the most distinguishable residents. Come off it. Stop looking for excuses for an obnoxious cop. Cops get respect if they give it. No one has to kiss cop butt just because he has a badge if they have broken no laws...and since Gates hadn't broken any and was on his own property that cop was looking for trouble.

GB...Closet racists...Why is it they all think no one notices their bigotry?

Pete...May I ask just why it anyone who "disrespects a cop is a fool" but those who disrespect their president isn't?

I am ashamed of those who call themselves Americans and present a global picture of their hatred for their duly elected president by calling him childish names and lobbing tons of blame on him for all the world to see and laugh at us.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments on this blog, Ewent. I wholeheartedly agree with you - and before I start getting called names as well, yes, I do support our President, and yes, I couldn't stand George Bush, but I will say that I never disrespected him in the manner Obama is constantly disrespected. As far as others on this blog, I would say that the only ones who can see your point are those who have met abusive police officers - just as with any group of people, there are good examples and bad examples - Crowley was a bad example. Did Gates act stupidly as well? Yes - but there was no call to arrest him, plain and simple. For those who talk about how quickly the police came to their aid, and how "nice" they were, I would venture to guess that the majority are caucasian. Once again, before you label me, I myself am causasian, but I have seen first hand how differently people of color and caucasions are treated by the Cambridge Police Department, and I don't doubt that is is the same in many cities/towns across the U.S. Don't even get me started on the differences in court sentences (or non-sentences if you are caucasian) between people of color and caucasians - this again, I have seen personally. There have been many studies done which prove my point. I don't know if Crowley was actually being racist (I actually do not think he was), however, I do believe he abused his authority in this situation (more likely due to a perceived "class" issue rather than a race issue, imho).

It's either been done thinking it would increase revenues via increased readership, OR it's been done by some computer-type geeks that have to keep fixing/improving on something that is NOT broken and doesn't need "improvement." The new format is obnoxious, I hate it, and am seriously considering changing my home page!

cutter315...OMG...Sooooo good. Computer geeks are like diapers...their usually full of it.