Cambridge police commissioner defends officer in Gates arrest

Boston Globe ^ | July 23, 2009 | By Martin Finucane

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The Cambridge police commissioner today defended the actions of the sergeant who arrested prominent black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. last week at his home, saying he believed the sergeant acted "consistent with his training" and without racial bias.

"I don't believe that Sergeant [James M.] Crowley acted with any racial motivation at all," said Commissioner Robert Haas.

Haas also revealed, in response to reporters' questions at the news conference, that Gates's house had been broken into before the incident. He did not specify exactly when the break-in had taken place.

Asked about Obama's comment, Cambridge police commissioner Robert Haas said that "this department is deeply pained."

"It deeply hurts the pride of this agency," he told a news conference this afternoon at city police headquarters.

"Sergeant Crowley followed proper protocol and procedures in making the arrest," said Haas, describing Crowley as a "stellar member of this department. I rely on his judgment every day."

[Cementjungle]

The question definitely a set up. 0bama knew it was coming! Lynn Sweet, Chicago reporter is an 0bama stooge. She read the question!

Obama hasn't taken an unscripted question since Joe the Plumber.

[RobRoy]

I agree about the freedom and liberty thing. However, no man lives on an island. I’d like to shoot my gun anywhere I want, but I live in a suburban area and have to get along with other people and deal with laws designed for such a culture.

If a passerby tells the cops they saw a man breaking into my house and on investigation they find the front door open and a man beligerently telling them to get off the property, I want them to make damn sure it is me that is making that claim. And if the person is getting beligerent, it is probably not me.

This is why I am closing on my 13 rural acres in central Kentucky next week. There will be no passers by to see me breaking into my own home - or robbers doing the same.

[RobRoy]

On a side note, I would recommend that you and Gates watch the movie Crash.

One of my all time favorites.

[Amerigomag]

I ...agreed that it was a good question, offered a possible reason:.. I suspect the weak knees occurred in the judicial system..

There are two obvious problems with the reply.

1) The District Attorney's office is a local branch of law enforcement, not the judicial system.
2) The statement implies that charges were first brought, at an arraignment in a night court, and then dropped.

Kiss: The most likely reason for the glaring faux pa was failure to read a simple police report before replying.

[PeterPrinciple]

There are two obvious problems with the reply.

1) The District Attorney’s office is a local branch of law enforcement, not the judicial system.
2) The statement implies that charges were first brought, at an arraignment in a night court, and then dropped.

---

I didn’t say anything about district attorney. Would not the night court be part of the judical system? My point still stands.

[Amerigomag]

The house is brightly lit but no one is home.

Good luck to you Pete. I suggest you follow the lawful commands of a uniformed police officer. If you don't, let us know. I'd love to observe the tragedy.

Think they'd let you fix your front door before you were ushered to a safer place?

[Amerigomag]

I think I will go talk to a fence post and have a better conversation.

I'd suggest you first put down the shovel. The hole is deep enough. No one, including the post, may be able to hear you from the depths of that pit.