Updates on the Crowley / Gates "racial profiling" incident
Cop who arrested black scholar is profiling expert
Excerpt:
he white police sergeant criticized by President Barack Obama for arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. in his Massachusetts home is a police academy expert on racial profiling.
Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley has taught a class on racial profiling for five years at the Lowell Police Academy after being hand-picked for the job by former police Commissioner Ronny Watson, who is black, said Academy Director Thomas Fleming.
"I have nothing but the highest respect for him as a police officer. He is very professional and he is a good role model for the young recruits in the police academy," Fleming told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The course, called "Racial Profiling," teaches about different cultures that officers could encounter in their community "and how you don't want to single people out because of their ethnic background or the culture they come from," Fleming said.
Police union condemns Obama's comments
Excerpt:
President Obama's Wednesday night criticism of Cambridge, Mass., police has drawn a rebuke from the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
The criticism comes after Obama said Cambridge police officers acted "stupidly" when they arrested Henry Louis Gates, a friend of the president's, after he broke into his own home. Gates was arrested on disorderly conduct charges, which were then dropped. The president said it highlights ongoing problems with race relations in the U.S.
Jim Pascoe, executive director of the FOP's legislative office, noted that before Obama made the remarks, the president acknowledged that he was only vaguely familiar with what happened.
"That being the case, it's unfortunate that he chose to say anything," Pascoe said. "He wasn't there, and he doesn't know what happened."
Pascoe said it appears that Gates was the "provocateur" because he called Officer James Crowley a racist instead of producing identification as requested.
Bill Cosby ’shocked’ at Obama’s statement on Harvard prof’s arrest
Excerpt:
On a Boston radio program this morning, Bill Cosby suggested that President Obama spoke too soon on the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.
“I’ve heard about five different reports [on the details of the arrest],” Cosby said on Boston’s WZLX. “If I’m the president of the United States, I don’t care how much pressure people want to put on it about race, I’m keeping my mouth shut.”
“I was shocked to hear the president making this kind of statement,” Cosby said referring to the president’s remarks during last night’s press conference.
Comments: Will Obama apologize to Crowley? He should!
What does it say about officer Crow, er Crowley, that he walked into Gates's house uninvited and then would not give his name or badge number on request?
ReplyDeleteIt speaks to poor professionalism. It speaks to disrespect of the Constitution. And it reeks of profiling.
If Obama is wrong, then why isn't Gates being charged? He committed NO CRIME except to embarrass a white cop in front of his fellow officers.
If Crowley, after receiving the same burglary report, had encountered a white man under identical circumstances, how does one imagine he might have reacted differently? And what if that white suspect became abusive and refused to produce identification? Of course, suspect Gates was not merely a black man but also a man whose life was consumed with the issue of racial injustice, real or imagined. And Crowley was not just any police officer, but an expert on how to maintain racial sensitivity and avoid profiling. Gates was, by his own testimony, tired and annoyed. Crowley was, due to the circumstances, suspicious and apprehensive. I believe a fair minded person is forced to conclude that there was indeed racial profiling--by Gates!
ReplyDeleteMatt, what would you tell an officer to do when he had credible evidence of forcible entry? Just walk away and not worry about whether someone might have forced their way into the house? Just let Mr. Gates get robbed or worse? The police report, by the way, mentions at least three attempts to provide Mr. Gates with the officer's name, attempts which Mr. Gates himself ended by directing a tirade at the officer.
ReplyDeleteMr. Gates needs to learn that when you pull stunts like that, officers will probably not give you the benefit of the doubt. Mr. Obama and Mr. Gates both owe Mr. Crowley an apology, as do you.
Gates did commit a crime. He refused to cooperate with the direct instructions of a police officer. Do you know how tough their job is? When a suspect (and Gates clearly made himself suspect)refuses to cooperate, a police officer needs to be empowered to control the situation. Their lives are often at stake. Where is Gates's gratutude that the police showed up so quickly to protect his property? I don't see a trace of racial profiling. This police officer definately needs to be apologized to, by Obama and more importantly, by Gates.
ReplyDelete