re: #806 drcordell

The cop showed up because of a 911 caller who said to the dispatcher that it very well could be someone who locked themselves out of the house. After verifying that Gates was indeed the homeowner, Gates began to mouth off to the officer. At this point he simply could have given Gates his badge number and left with no problem. Instead he refused to give his badge number, and told Gates to come outside, while being yelled at by Gates. He then arrested Gates once he stepped outside because he was “disorderly.” Explain again how this was simply his police duty?

1. Sgt Crowley, uniformed and responding alone and without backup, may not have been provided these lower level details. He was responding to an eye witness 911 emergency call. The dispatcher relays emergency and necessary info only. The witness, Ms. Whalen, who was on the scene, clearly said nothing that reversed her initial perception of a possible break in, otherwise Sgt. Crowley would have left.

2. Gates never “verified” that he lived in the residence. Gates produced a Harvard University id card — which does not list home address.

3. Gates could never prove he was the “homeowner” — because he wasn’t and isn’t. The residence in question is either leased to Gates or “provided to Gates”. It is Harvard owned. As a senior and likely tenured professor, he was provided university housing, and that’s why he’s there. He doesn’t own it. He was asked to provide confirmation of legal residence — and he didn’t.

4. Sgt. Crowley’s badge number is plainly visible — on his police department badge, which he wore during the incident, as is his name, which would be plainly visibile on a name tag worn on his department blues.

5. Moving Gates outside is a SOP — removing agitated individuals from immediate proximities has been proven to restore communication and calm needlessly adverse circumstances.

6. Gates was arrested on the minor infraction of disorderly conduct as he continued to unjustifiably verbally berate and insult an officer of the law in the conduct of the people’s business. This has been vouched for — unquestioningly — by fellow officers who were on the scene. These officers were white, black and hispanic.

Get your facts straight.

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