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Sergeant Crowley doesn't come off looking bad at all, in my book....and that's saying something because cops and I generally do not get along.
He investigated a report of a break-in, Gates went full retard because he saw a white cop standing on his porch (never mind that the reason he was there was because a white neighbor saw what looked like a someone breaking into Gates' home and called the cops about it--doing basically what good neighbors are supposed to do, which is look out for each other), and when Gates wouldn't put his mouth in neutral, Crowley did the next best thing and put it in park.
It shows that cops and the DA have better things to worry about than piss-ant professors.
Gates disturbed the peace. He got himself a four-hour time out at the police station to ruminate on the relative wisdom of calling cops racist in public.
The cops asked the DA to enter nolle prosequi in the case--like they do in a number of disturbing the peace cases--because once everyone calms down, there's no compelling need to haul his ass before a judge.
It's not a BS arrest. It would be a BS prosecution if the DA pursued it, but that doesn't make it a BS arrest.
I think they were embarassed by the whole thing and new there was no reason for the arrest. Look, I agree with many of your points. People lose their ****, I get that. I just do not think the government should have a right to come onto your property and arrest you for arguing with police. If the officer would have left it would have been over.
Instead he radioed for back-up, multiple times, for an elderly man who'd already confirmed that there was no crime in progress. A bit extreme there.
A crippled at that!:doh
Instead he radioed for back-up, multiple times, for an elderly man who'd already confirmed that there was no crime in progress. A bit extreme there.
people don't like to be talked down to.
Most of us, if given the authority to "get even", would abuse that authority to do so. Hopegully most of us would regret it later, but sadly, this isn't the case here.
Clearly any said peace disturbance would go away if the cop left the persons property. He chose to use his power to the fullest and make an arrest. to "get even".
If someone wants to step forward as an actual victim, I will happily change my tune. Until then, textbook case of competing egos and abuse of power.
To what end? Gates calmed down after his time-out at the police station....what more would making the charge stick accomplish?Gates did not disturb the peace, if they felt he did, then make a charge stick.
To what end? Gates calmed down after his time-out at the police station....what more would making the charge stick accomplish?
From the Celtic Lord Dictionary of Online Communications:And could you explain what you mean by "full-retard"? It's not an expression I've ever heard before.
Main Entry: full retard
Pronunciation:\-ˌri-ˈtärd\
Function: adjective
Date: 21st century
1: characterized by extraordinary stupidity and recklessness, usually with painful and/or embarrassing consequence.
And could you explain what you mean by "full-retard"? It's not an expression I've ever heard before.
Cops do that all the time. It's called having witnesses. More friendly eyeballs now means less talking to Internal Affairs later.Instead he radioed for back-up, multiple times, for an elderly man who'd already confirmed that there was no crime in progress. A bit extreme there.
To what end? Gates calmed down after his time-out at the police station....what more would making the charge stick accomplish?
The police do not get to play the part of judge. They should not make arrests simply so people can "cool off". The purpose of law enforcement is to protect the rights of people in a civilized society. Nobody is showing me who's rights were violated by Gates, all you are doing is acting like it is OK for the cop to act like the judge and meter out punishment.
Uhm, Arresting someone is not playing "judge". infact by definition it is not.
It's not punishment at all. It's the ultimate in de-escalation: take people out of the situation so things settle down.The police do not get to play the part of judge. They should not make arrests simply so people can "cool off". The purpose of law enforcement is to protect the rights of people in a civilized society. Nobody is showing me who's rights were violated by Gates, all you are doing is acting like it is OK for the cop to act like the judge and meter out punishment.
It's not punishment at all. It's the ultimate in de-escalation: take people out of the situation so things settle down.
If I've got a neighbor standing out in public yelling that cops are racist I'm likely to shout back at him to shut the hell up, and when he doesn't I'm equally likely to walk up to him and shut him up myself. So I'm quite OK with a cop hauling the pissant prof off to the lockup for a few hours to cool his jets....saves me the time and trouble and court appearances for giving his mealy mouth the slapping it deserves.
Uhm, Arresting someone is not playing "judge". infact by definition it is not.
Cops do that all the time. It's called having witnesses. More friendly eyeballs now means less talking to Internal Affairs later.
It's not punishment at all. It's the ultimate in de-escalation: take people out of the situation so things settle down.
If I've got a neighbor standing out in public yelling that cops are racist I'm likely to shout back at him to shut the hell up, and when he doesn't I'm equally likely to walk up to him and shut him up myself. So I'm quite OK with a cop hauling the pissant prof off to the lockup for a few hours to cool his jets....saves me the time and trouble and court appearances for giving his mealy mouth the slapping it deserves.
It's not punishment at all. It's the ultimate in de-escalation: take people out of the situation so things settle down.
If I've got a neighbor standing out in public yelling that cops are racist I'm likely to shout back at him to shut the hell up, and when he doesn't I'm equally likely to walk up to him and shut him up myself. So I'm quite OK with a cop hauling the pissant prof off to the lockup for a few hours to cool his jets....saves me the time and trouble and court appearances for giving his mealy mouth the slapping it deserves.
Once Crowley realized he was dealing with a Harvard Professor (i.e., a bloviating blowhard bigot), he called for Harvard cops to be on scene as well.Multiple times though, to the point where there were five cruisers from two different precincts outside the house of an elderly man whose only crime was shoutig?
He was. Gates decided that wasn't enough and decided to follow Sergeant Crowley outside. That was dumb.the ultimate deescalation in this case would of been for the cop to walk away.
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