Posted on 07/25/2009 8:37:19 AM PDT by AJKauf
I am in a sense fortunate in that I work in an area where Im as likely to encounter an extraterrestrial as an Ivy League professor, but like most police officers I can nonetheless sympathize with Cambridge Police Department sergeant James Crowley, for whom there will be no waking from the nightmare for some time to come. But, except for the notoriety and lofty position of the reported burglar (one of Americas preeminent black scholars, and all that), the scenario presented to Sgt. Crowley is fairly typical, one that every cop has experienced many times. A well-meaning neighbor has seen something she perceives as out of the ordinary and has asked the police to investigate. If more people were disposed to act this way, Americas crime rate would plummet overnight.
The first question to be asked about Sgt. Crowleys initial response is, was it lawful and reasonable? Clearly it was both. A cornerstone U.S. Supreme Court decision, Terry v. Ohio, held that an officer may stop and detain a person he reasonably believes to be involved in criminal activity. Here, Sgt. Crowley answered a citizens report of a possible burglary. Such reports are granted a presumption of reliability under the law, so Sgt. Crowley was on solid ground in approaching the home and, upon seeing a man inside who matched the description provided by the witness, asking him for his identification. A police officer responding to such a report must, for his own safety, assume the report to be accurate until he can satisfy himself that it isnt. The cop who blithely handles every call assuming it to be a false alarm will likely not survive to handle many of them. ..
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
The cop claimed that Gates was acting tumultuously. You don't think that Gates was acting tumultuously?
Do you think a policeman has the power to arrests somebody who act tumultuous during a police investigation?
This was all a set-up. The event happened a week before the affiramtive action figure held his presser/staged Q&A, the ‘reporter’ who was give the last slot was a Chicago based wonk, the region is a solid liberal area not likely to be lost at election time and not likely to erupt in violent racial disturbances, the Pres_ _ent segwayed quickly to the real reason for the questiona nd his repsonding and that was to raise for distraction purposes the issue of ‘racial profiling’ and create a hook upon which his racist minions could take over the media oxygen. And it works every time because black people have been programmed to remain ever vigilant that the chip they’ve been taught to carry on their shoulder not be dissolved by peace and normalcy. What is disgusting is the media servitude in aiding the irrational hype ginned up by racist pricks liek Barack Obama and Al Sharptoon. Where is Jesse Jackasson? Still licking his wounds for when he was carefully exposed as wanting to snip off Barry’s balls for elbowing into the racism lead?
Gates owns a big expensive house in another location, He was staying in Harvard housing. Any notice of how long he had been staying there? Any data on the eyesight of the neighbor? What time of day did this event occur? What address did the ID Gates shoved at the officer contain? Were people starting to show up at the scene as the racist prick Gates shouted and screamed obscenities at the officers? ... You live in Memphis, BTW?
Grad student lackey who got drafted to pick him up at the airport?
Ah, I see you live in S.E. Tenn. Going to invite you up to one of our area gatherings, if you and your family are interested.
Yeah, as my wife would say, "add short-man-syndrome" on top of that giant redwood chip on Gates' shoulder. Holy carp, it is a wonder Gates didn't self-combust from the heat of that seething rage!
A cab driver, IIRC.
That's ridiculous.
I know the neighbors around my home well. A gay couple, a normal black family, a retired navy guy and family, a single mom + kid, and two regular run of the mill white two parent, kids families.
The guy living four doors down could be the King of Siam as far I know. As long as he cuts his yard and keeps his property up I'd probably never know him.
OJs Butcher Knife
So you imagine that if a black cop was in the residence of a white person to investigate a break in by two white men reported by a black neighbor and the cop arrested the white guy for merely yelling at them, the cop would be supported by all? I don’t think so.
If you can not express your views, no matter how big a crack pot Gates is, in your own home, where exactly can you express them. As I suggested in the other thread I linked, giving the police carte blanche to arrest anyone they want whenever is not a free society at work. Yes Crowley should not have arrested Gates unless he was arresting him for breaking and entering. Once he determined the crime that was reported was not a crime, Crowley should have left.
He was leaving when "skippie" created a Public Disturbance.
I’m between Chattanooga and Knoxville in a little town called Athens. It’s a very historic area. I’m just across the TN. River from Dayton, the place where the famous Monkey Trial was held.
What part of TN are you in?
Excuse me sir, may I see your ID please?
What’s the problem officer?
We had a report of a burglary.
Oh no! I live here... Here this is my ID.
Terribly sorry.
No problem, I understand... and I thank you! Can I fix you up a coffee?
(Ahhh civilization! - Sarah Palin style)
It’s not ridiculous for here. In this area we know people, not just what color they are. We know their names, where they are from, where they work, where they go to church..... and it’s very normal, not ridiculous.
Since I live in this kind of area it IS strange to me to hear that people don’t know their neighbors, that’s all. Sometimes I forget that I live in a place that is obviously much different than some.
Nobody has 'carte banche' to express their views. I can't stand on my porch and scream at the top of my lungs "Obama is a blue lipped Marxist" and not have the authorities come and investigate if my neighbor calls them
The first amendment forbids the federal government, not the local beat cop, from restricting your speech though the power of their authority
Creating a public nuisance is not expressing your views
Maybe Gates isn’t quite the Big Shot he thinks he is. Especially if one doesn’t watch Oprah. I can’t see a police sergeant doing that.
I drive past at least 100 homes every time I come home and guarantee you if I saw any person of any color, shouldering a front door I would call the police, since I would assume (rightfully) if it was their home, they would have a key
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