Obama-"Cambridge Police acted stupid"

[careerchange#2]

The only reason this made national news is because he is a black Harvard professor. Yes, racism is alive and well in our country and people like Nobama, Gate, Sharpton, the ACLU, and the NAACP practice it every day. White cop shoot white guy? No prob. Black cop shoot white guy? No prob. Black guy shoot any color cop? No problem. Any cop shoot any color but white guy? RASCISM!!!! MLK would be disgusted if he was still around to see what people are doing to this country. Rascism would die if people like Sharpton and Co would just go away. They keep it alive so they have a job. When was the last time they came to the aide of a law abiding citizen? They exist because their "constiguents" are criminals just like them.. Oh Mr. Prez? Chicago called they want their ghetto back, please make it leave the White House.

[deputyrabbit]

It's alright guys. President Obama apologized and is inviting gates and the officer to the white house "for a beer".

Wheew! That fixes everything. I guess this thread can be locked now.

[Ten-32]

Obama did NOT apologize. He back-pedaled, but did NOT apologize.

[PtlCop]

With as quickly as both the city and the president are backpedaling from this situation, i'm willing to bet we'll never actually "know" what happened until somebody comes out with the cell phone video of the entire incident.

My question is this, and feel free to speculate, but one thing I always do when i'm in a situation where I think to myself that it's going to result in a complaint or significant media coverage...especially if I'm being as professional as the Sgt. seemed to be in his report, is to turn on my mic and record it. Anyone know if Cambridge has in-car video/audio? I know that if somebody started accusing me of being a racist cop (as was alleged in the report), the first thing i'd do was go straight for my mic switch and record every single word that the guy was saying.

My other question is this. Once the mans identity was verified, why not just leave him screaming and shouting in his home. Once he showed me his ID, why continue on with the whole thing? Why not say "thank you sir, have a good day" and walk back to your car and return to service?

I've read some troubling things from Gates's lawyer, like alleging that the Sgt. kept asking him to step from the house and when he did the Sgt. said something to the affect of "thank you sir, now you're under arrest." That would be pretty troubling if it were the case. Also troubling to me is that, if the report is accurate, that Harvard hasn't come out and publicly admonished or dismissed their professor for his blatant racism.

[BrickCop]

With as quickly as both the city and the president are backpedaling from this situation, i'm willing to bet we'll never actually "know" what happened until somebody comes out with the cell phone video of the entire incident.

Call me biased but I tend to believe the cop.

My question is this, and feel free to speculate, but one thing I always do when i'm in a situation where I think to myself that it's going to result in a complaint or significant media coverage...especially if I'm being as professional as the Sgt. seemed to be in his report, is to turn on my mic and record it. Anyone know if Cambridge has in-car video/audio? I know that if somebody started accusing me of being a racist cop (as was alleged in the report), the first thing i'd do was go straight for my mic switch and record every single word that the guy was saying.

The sergeant was not equipped with a mic. He was acutally assigned in an administrative capacity at the station (training instructor, etc) but answered the B&E call because he happened to be in the immediate vicinity.

My other question is this. Once the mans identity was verified, why not just leave him screaming and shouting in his home. Once he showed me his ID, why continue on with the whole thing? Why not say "thank you sir, have a good day" and walk back to your car and return to service?

Again I'll side with the veteran sergeant. While he could've ignored the ongoing breach of the peace I can't critque him when I was not there. I'm sure you don't like to have MMQB's critique your every move.

I've read some troubling things from Gates's lawyer, like alleging that the Sgt. kept asking him to step from the house and when he did the Sgt. said something to the affect of "thank you sir, now you're under arrest." That would be pretty troubling if it were the case. Also troubling to me is that, if the report is accurate, that Harvard hasn't come out and publicly admonished or dismissed their professor for his blatant racism.

I'm sure it happened just as Gates lawyer alleged. As far as Harvard not dismissing Gates...you can't be possibly serious. We're talking Harvard...their liberal anti- establishment culture is legendary.

[Bearcat357]

It simply freaking amazes me that some supposedly "LEOs" are siding with a known racist professor....and not a veteran LEO....

Par for the course around here I guess.....Good f'ing God....

[PtlCop]

Call me biased but I tend to believe the cop.



The sergeant was not equipped with a mic. He was acutally assigned in an administrative capacity at the station (training instructor, etc) but answered the B&E call because he happened to be in the immediate vicinity.



Again I'll side with the veteran sergeant. While he could've ignored the ongoing breach of the peace I can't critque him when I was not there. I'm sure you don't like to have MMQB's critique your every move.



I'm sure it happened just as Gates lawyer alleged. As far as Harvard not dismissing Gates...you can't be possibly serious. We're talking Harvard...their liberal anti- establishment culture is legendary.

A fair point about Harvard, they're probably going to dedicate a wing to him.

The troubling things I'm reading from the lawyer aren't specifically to this incident, more lobbing allegations of past racism by the officer involved, he claims to have people willing to step forward depending on how the city chooses to deal with the incident. I'm guessing if the lawyers posturing is legit, the city/department is well aware of the incidents he's going to bring out. While I don't believe it happened exactly as the lawyer/Gates are saying, I also don't believe it happened exactly as the Sgt. says either. That's why I wish there were video/audio of the ENTIRE interaction.

I don't know who I choose to believe at this point, we've been inundated with so many sides to the story that i'm sure there's a middle ground somewhere.

As far as people critiquing my moves, that's part of the job in the public eye. I fully expect that 50% of the people will think I should have done something different and the other 50% will think I did a good job. Hell, I fully expect everything I do to be video taped, posted on youtube and the like.

[Bearcat357]

The troubling things I'm reading from the lawyer aren't specifically to this incident, more lobbing allegations of past racism by the officer involved

Errr....and you've heard that where....??

I also don't believe it happened exactly as the Sgt. says either. That's why I wish there were video/audio of the ENTIRE interaction.

So, if that was your SGT....you wouldn't stand behind him and/or tell him he's FOS....even when neighbors and the other patrol officer are 100% on board with him about what happened....?

[PtlCop]

Errr....and you've heard that where....??




So, if that was your SGT....you wouldn't stand behind him and/or tell him he's FOS....even when neighbors and the other patrol officer are 100% on board with him about what happened....?

See the most recent CNN story where they're talking to the Gates lawyer. It was on the front page the last time I looked. He specifically mentions that this isn't the first incident with this particular officer, and that others have come forward with similar allegations.

Do I blindly stand behind people I don't know? Absolutely not. There's a major difference between MY Sgt, who i've worked with and know his character and trust and somebody I've never met, never worked with and don't know the character of. It's comparing Apples to Gorillas basically. The other patrol officer being 100% on board isn't surprising, and the neighbors haven't ALL been on board, there were 2 or 3 on MSNBC last night saying basically that the Sgt. and Gates were just shouting to see who could shout louder and that Gates didn't need to be arrested.

So no, I don't blindly believe one person just because we both wear a uniform, nobody else should either. Do I think the Sgt was probably more accurate in his account than what Gates's lawyer is saying, yes I do. Do I believe it happened word for word, blow by blow the way the Sgt. is saying? I do not.

[PtlCop]

Bearcat357 here's the news story, it's still on the front page of CNN as of me posting this.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/24/officer.gates.arrest/index.html

The section I was referring to is near the end of the article. It's a curious thing to throw in there as a lawyer, and I doubt he'd be doing it if he didn't have an example.

[BrickCop]

See the most recent CNN story where they're talking to the Gates lawyer. It was on the front page the last time I looked. He specifically mentions that this isn't the first incident with this particular officer, and that others have come forward with similar allegations.

The lawyer needs to put up or shut up in this regard, agreed?

Do I blindly stand behind people I don't know? Absolutely not. There's a major difference between MY Sgt, who i've worked with and know his character and trust and somebody I've never met, never worked with and don't know the character of.

How well do you know Gates? You repeatedly cite his lawyer's comments as troubling but OTOH dismiss most of the sergeant's own words as to what took place.

It's comparing Apples to Gorillas basically. The other patrol officer being 100% on board isn't surprising, and the neighbors haven't ALL been on board, there were 2 or 3 on MSNBC last night saying basically that the Sgt. and Gates were just shouting to see who could shout louder and that Gates didn't need to be arrested.

Again you summarily dismiss the ON SCENE officers' observations but latch onto the MSNBC interviewees version as gospel. BTW what kind of police training did those neighbors have? I've met hundreds of civilians over the years who were self professed experts on how to do my job.

So no, I don't blindly believe one person just because we both wear a uniform, nobody else should either. Do I think the Sgt was probably more accurate in his account than what Gates's lawyer is saying, yes I do. Do I believe it happened word for word, blow by blow the way the Sgt. is saying? I do not.

There nothing wrong with asking questions however in your case it's evident there is nothing Sergeant Crowley can say or do that would satisfy you. You openly doubt his version of events but have only cited Gates lawyer as the reason for doing so while dismissing the sergeant and other ON SCENE officers statements.

Pathetic.

[zdblanke]

Deleted......

[PtlCop]

The lawyer needs to put up or shut up in this regard, agreed?



How well do you know Gates? You repeatedly cite his lawyer's comments as troubling but OTOH dismiss most of the sergeant's own words as to what took place.



Again you summarily dismiss the ON SCENE officers' observations but latch onto the MSNBC interviewees version as gospel. BTW what kind of police training did those neighbors have? I've met hundreds of civilians over the years who were self professed experts on how to do my job.



There nothing wrong with asking questions however in your case it's evident there is nothing Sergeant Crowley can say or do that would satisfy you. You openly doubt his version of events but have only cited Gates lawyer as the reason for doing so while dismissing the sergeant and other ON SCENE officers statements.

Pathetic.

He's a lawyer, he's not going to put up anything until he knows it's a good time.

I have dismissed nothing, in fact, I have said flat out that I believe that the Sgt's version is probably more accurate than what the lawyer has put forth. If you'd actually read the post and think it through rather than seeing red because...GASP....somebody has a different viewpoint than you, you might have been able to see it. Additionally, what I found troubling was what the lawyers SAYS happens, as in, if that's how it went down, I find that troubling. Nothing was "dismissed."

I've not "blindly" stood behind anyone...if you're just going to make things up, that's what's pathetic.

Yes, there were other officers on scene, as well as civilians. I'll take the words of each and weigh them each. I've again dismissed nothing. I again point out that I flat out said that I believe the Sgt's account is more accurate, yet do not think that it's exactly as the incident played out.

So now people have to have police training to determine whether or not something is right or wrong? Legal or Illegal I can see, we all have our opinions on what's right or wrong in a persons actions. The neighbors don't have to have police training to come out and state that in their opinion, Gates didn't need to be arrested. Some neighbors also stated that he did need to be arrested, why aren't you questioning THEIR police training? Oh that's right, because they agree with YOU.

Again, I didn't say I was taking the side of the neighbors, I simply pointed out that a previous poster was incorrect in saying that all the bystanders were behind the police, they were not. I never took their side, I simply pointed it out. But again, you chose to get all upset while missing the actual point.

There's nothing the Sgt. need say. He's filled out his report and the charges have been dropped. That's the end of the story. I read through his report, the supplemental report, I've read through the various news reports and seen multiple witnesses interviewed, both supporting the Sgt and supporting Gates. Based on that I've formulated an opinion that is basically the same as everyone elses, nobody is ever going to know the whole story.

You clearly have absolutely no reading comprehension skills and choose to latch onto half sentences and partial statements to formulate your weak comeback. Is your name Bill O'Reilly? Great way to debate a topic.

Did Gates need to be arrested, who knows. I'm not going to say one way or the other. Do I think we're getting the real story from ANY of the involved parties? Absolutely, positively NOT.

[PtlCop]

You also sound like the type of person who backs their co-workers no matter what they do, legal, ethical or not.

[grog18b]

PLT COP-- Just an FYI, but if you ever had an incident covered by MSNBC and/or CNN... You would know that they very seldom report the truth accurately. I had a triple homicide covered on both networks, as well as "Nancy Grace" and the stories told were not even CLOSE to the news release on the incident as it actually happened. Matter of fact, they had pretty much convicted the wrong person, until evidence was gathered. I don't know how many years you have on the job, but you are putting an awful lot of trust in two places you should NEVER get your information. The news, and lawyers. Neither gets things correct most of the time. The "news" is all about ratings, and sensationalizing things. They constantly take information from sources they rarely bother to verify, and advertise it as gospel. Then, when proven wrong, rarely bother to correct their errors. Lawyers are worse, and their only concern is money, and making their client look like Jesus.

Oh, and as far as backing a fellow officer... I would trust that unknown officer to rush to my aid, if I were calling for help over the radio, and would trust that unknown officer to help if they were off duty driving by a traffic stop and saw me fighting with someone. So, yes, we do put more "stock" into what the Sgt says, and writes in his official report. The news and lawyers and "suspects" can lie through their teeth, without fear of any civil or legal reprisals. The Sgt cannot. If discovered to be false, he could be fired, arrested and charged with falsifying reports. His price for lieing is much higher than people who say "The troubling things I'm reading from the lawyer aren't specifically to this incident, more lobbing allegations of past racism by the officer involved, he claims to have people willing to step forward depending on how the city chooses to deal with the incident." Which says to me... Give us money, and kiss our rear, and we'll forget the whole thing. Typical lawyer smoke screen. He can claim the world, and is hoping the city will settle on the lawsuit that I'm sure will follow, if it has not already been filed.