It turns out that Officer Crowley was previously assigned to teach other officers about how to NOT profile people based on race. In this sense, Professor Gates was completely wrong about Officer Crowley, and should fully apologize for the insulting remarks and accusations he yelled to Officer Crowley at the time.
BUT (and this is a HUUUUUGE BUT)... Officer Crowley is still wrong.
Having taught other officers about racial profiling, he should have known fully WHY Gates would have been upset at the very notion that he present his ID to an officer that was standing on his property. That's inexcusable.
But that's not everything.
You see, Officer Crowley contradicted himself. In an interview with a radio station, Crowley tells the interviewer that he asked Gates to step outside of the house because he was concerned for his own safety. But in the written police report, Crowley specifically wrote, "My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and foyer were making it difficult for me to transmit pertinent infonnation to ECC or other responding units."
But wait, there's more.
In that same report, Officer Crowley contradicted himself. The first part of the police report, Crowley wrote that, "Gates...was placed under arrest...after being observed exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior, in a public place." Later in the report, Officer Crowley clearly states that he, "stepped up the stairs, onto the porch and attempted to place handcuffs on Gates." So why did i specifically note the "public place"? Officer Crowley arrested Professor Gates for disorderly conduct. According to Massachussets General Law, Chapter 272 Section 54, such an offense can only occur if the offending person, " is found in a public way or other public place". Further, Cambridge Municipal Code section 9.08.010 states, "No person shall behave himself in a rude or disorderly manner, or use any indecent, profane or insulting language in any street or public place. No person shall make or cause to be made, any unnecessary noise or noises in any public street, private way or park, so as to cause any inconvenience or discomfort for the inhabitants of the City." In this case, "private way" refers to private streets. Clearly Officer Crowley was using the proper coded language to make a prima facie case for arresting Gates. But of course, Gates was on his porch that entire time, and it was Officer Crowley who walked back, onto Gates' porch to arrest him. This is the real reason why the charge was dropped by the DA. Officer Crowley arrested Gates improperly on private property. Forgive my French, but Officer Crowley was using legal code to cover his ass.
But wait, that's still not the end of it.
Officer Crowley contradicted himself a THIRD time. In that same radio interview, he commented that he requested a driver's license to verify that Gates was the resident of that address (as opposed to a picture ID to verify his identity). Again, in his written report, Officer Crowley neglected to mention this, but rather, specifically said that, "With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings to ECC on channel two and prepared to leave." Now clearly, the two stories do not match.
But again, that's not all of it.
You see, Officer Crowley could have ratcheted down the situation by simply apologizing for the inconvenience and walking away, but he didn't. If you are like me, it is absolutely incomprehensible WHY he would call University Police after identifying Gates as the rightful resident of the home. And, it is also inconceivable that, after Officer Crowley had walked nearly to the sidewalk, would turn around and brandish his handcuffs, when he could have simply continued to walk away. So what, if Gates was yelling at him; ignore it.
And so, folks, I think Officer Crowley owes Professor Gates an apology just as much as he deserves one from Professor Gates. And quite frankly, I think Officer Crowley is getting a pass by the press, considering all the lies that he has told.
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