Home » Fixing the Problems, Headline, Justice System, Police, They said what??

‘Stupid is as stupid does’ – Note to Skip Gates’ arresting officer

By Carmen D. on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009, 10:07 am Comments

skipgatesI haven’t had anything poetic or particularly insightful to say about the disturbing arrest of esteemed scholar and leading intellectual, Harvard Professor Henry Louis ‘Skip’ Gates. Nothing surprises me anymore. From the moment I heard the story, all I could think of was Joe Horn, the Texas man who shot two burglary suspects in the back, as they ran away from his neighbor’s home with a bag full of their stuff. Mr. Horn told the operator he was going to go out and kill two people and lo and behold he did just that. Joe Horn has never faced a single criminal charge.Let me be very clear. The police work for us. They are public servants. I have no problem with a demand for ID once a complaint has been lodged. But once I prove that I am who I say I am, and that I am in my home, if I demand your name and badge number you need to provide that as well; even if I’m agitated and loud. Sgt. James Crowley arrested Gates because he could. The officer also could have just walked away from the “crazy old guy with cane” and gone on his way. But, no. He had to show this “uppity,” mouthy fellow what was what.

Richard Weinblatt, director of the Institute for Public Safety at Central Ohio Technical College, said the police sergeant was responsible for defusing the situation once he realized Skip Gates was the lawful occupant. It is not against the law to yell at police, especially in a home, as long as that behavior does not affect an investigation, he said.

“That is part of being a police officer in a democratic society,” Weinblatt said. “The point is that the police sergeant needs to be the bigger person, take the higher road, be more professional.”

Source: Sgt. Crowley defends Gates arrest, AOL

Once upon a time, officers I knew as a kid could talk people down. They were humble and referred to you as ‘Miss,’ ‘Ma’am’ or ‘Sir.’ I never felt truly safe around cops, but I have always respected the hard, essential work they do. I respect most of them still. But it was stupid of Sgt. James Crowley to arrest Professor Gates.

It is as simple and as complicated as that.

READ More: ‘Skip Gates and the Post Racial Project’ – Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, The Nation

READ More: ‘The black Harvard professor, the white Cambridge cop and Officer Carlos Figueroa’ – Liza Sabater, Culture Kitchen

READ More: ‘Skip, You Mouthed Off’ – Mansfield Frazier, The Daily Beast

READ More: Henry Louis Gates Full Arrest Report [It doesn't have the ring of truth to me. Gates is disabled, has had hip replacement, one leg shorter than other. Also, was Gates Mirandized?]

HEAR More: Sgt. James Crowley Audio

READ For Your SAFETY: The Topsoil Guide to Healthy Protest – Andrew Padula, All About Race

  • ray
    if the officerwas black,gates would not have acted like that hes racist
  • Kkatherine
    Following the "beer summit", Sgt. Crowley spoke at a press conference in DC reading a prepared statement and taking questions. Did Gates do this also?
  • No. Both Gates and Pres. Obama released written statements regarding the "beer summit."
  • twiston
    I just think that it is a shame that professor gates doesn't teach at UCLA...
  • Anonymiss, I don't (either) mean to imply a sweeping conclusion by offering this for consideration of the "Black officer at scene" idea you pose, but there is the phenomenon of the black officer "showin up for the white cop" to paraphrase NWA. In other words, it is possible that in an area like Cambridge (I've read up a little on the racial atmosphere as well as the history of the area and it is tense) or many other areas, a black officer could feel a lot of pressure NOT to stand up for other blacks who are being arrested, and act on that feeling.
  • Anonymiss
    Yes that is entirely possible.

    Actually I read a post on another side that cleared up the issue for me and now I fully support Mr. Gates. Ugh, I wish I could remember the name of the blog but basically the blogger explained how Gates was arrested for "disorderly conduct" but shouldn't have because he was on private property (his own home) hence why the charges were dropped because you can supposedly only be charged for this if you are on public property.
  • Anonymiss
    I'm a little confused about what to think regarding this whole situation. I've heard a number of different viewpoints and I think that in a case like this its really not fair to choose sides. There was actually a black officer present during Mr. Gates' arrest. Not to say that eliminates the possibility of racial profiling but it seems justified that if someone is seen breaking into a house they will be questioned. Especially in a well off community. At first I was really upset when I heard but now that I read the story it seems like it might just be a misunderstanding and the police may have just been doing their job. After all they did drop the charges against Gates. Well both Gates and the officer agreed to meet with Obama and discuss what happened so lets see what happens then.
  • David
    Yeah, it was stupid of Officer Crowley to arrest Professor Gates for being disorderly even though technically he was in violation of the (IMO far too broadly written) disorderly law.

    It was equally stupid of Professor Gates to call racism and become belligerent as soon as the Officer knocked on his door and requested to verify his identity.
  • Katherine
    Hi Carmen, you stated in your post, "Once upon a time, officers I knew as a kid could talk people down. They were humble and referred to you as ‘Miss,’ ‘Ma’am’ or ‘Sir.’ I never felt truly safe around cops, but I have always respected the hard, essential work they do.

    Where you have favorable memories of police officers and respect them today, why, personally, have you "never felt truly safe around cops"?
  • @JP - well put!
blog comments powered by Disqus