Gates' Daughter Calls Cop Uncooperative

Along With Cambridge Mayor, Proposes Officer Meet With Her Father to Discuss Arrest, Race Matters

(CBS)  The daughter of Henry Louis Gates Jr. called the officer who arrested her father uncooperative in the city of Cambridge's attempts to diffuse a racially charged situation.

Gates, a prominent black scholar and Harvard professor, was arrested last week at his home by Sgt. James Crowley, a white officer, after it was reported someone was trying to break into Mr. Gates' residence.

In the ensuing days, claims of racial profiling by Gates, and Crowley's firm defense of his actions have reignited discussion over the treatment of black men by the police.

Speaking on "The Early Show" Friday, Elizabeth Gates and Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, who is also black, talked about the possibility of bringing Gates and Crowley together to settle their differences.

Simmons said she has received a "positive response" from Gates, but has yet to hear back from Crowley. To which Elizabeth Gates said: "I don't think the officer is being at all cooperative."

On Thursday, the Cambridge Police Department said it would launch an investigation into the matter and it revealed that Crowley had been hand-picked by the city's black police commissioner to teach a racial profiling class to new officers.

"I think he needs to maybe extend his sensitivity training," Elizabeth Gates said of Crowley, and stressed the importance of the officer sitting down with her father.

"If it's left as is, we're going to rely on our preconceived notions of race."

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[DrEgonSpengler]

To the Kambridge Kops, It's not a profile, it's a summary.

· Boilerplate PC,
· 2 Black Guys,
· fungible facts,
· all witnesses are cops.

Judges? We don't need no stinkin? Judges.

[michaelhm1]

Gates would have been arrested no matter what race he was and deservedly so. The Officer was conducting an investigation and under those circumstances, ONLY AN IDIOT OR DRUNK WOULD ARGUE AND YELL AT A POLICE OFFICER.

[DrEgonSpengler]

Oh I see; It's not a profile, it's a summary.

Boilerplate PC,
2 Black Guys,
fungible facts,
all witnesses are cops.

Judges, We don't need no stinkin? Judges.

[jmcaul]

Gates' daughter needs to face the fact that her father behaved in a TOTALLY UNCOOL manner towards the cop. The cop does not need to "sit down for a beer" with her father, her father owes this cop and the police department an apology. Or, perhaps it is time for universities to start creating "White Studies" departments to start studying the problem of whites in the US constantly being blamed for every ill experienced collectively or individually by blacks???

[MzSoniaV]

I praise the Officer for not participating in this charade, This will not nor does it have anything to do with race or an opportunity to mend race relations. It's an opportunity for an opportunist.


svivar9087

[shueevon]

"...we're going to rely on our preconceived notions of race." Hallelujah and Amen! To some, everything HAS TO BE about race -- to the rest, it's not about race unless it's about race. You don't have to like it but if a police officer asks you to comply - and you don't - there will be consequences, regardless of race or any other factor. The only bit of this whole matter that has to do with race, IMHO, is that the DA decided to drop the charges (because Gates is black) in order to help make this all go away... Gates should send him / her a thank you card.

[bigmiketownsend]

Atta girl Elizabeth; keep squirting gas all over that fire ya nitz. Really? Ther officer needs to extend his sensitivity training, huh? Well I think you need to extend your brain a few inches and focus on something else besides YOUR RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brooke50]

So let me get this right - someone feels that if a Police Officer is responding to a reported break-in, and finds an unknow person inside the house, the Police should not enter and challenge that person?

SJC_1 - I think you need to think this out more - What would you be saying if the Police were responding to a break-in at your house? They have no idea what you look like, but find the door forced open and someone inside - I am sure you would be the first one to complain if the Police did nothing - asked no questions.

People need to start thinking with their brain and not their emotions. I was not there, you were not there, so we don't honestly know everything that happened - do we?

[southwest555]

I think LIZZY BORDEN -- OPPS (GATES) SHOULD SHUT H*** UP AND IF AREN'T HAPPY GO BACK TOP AFRICA... NO PROBLEM WITH ANY US :WHIRTE BOYS:

[southwest555]

I think "LIZZY GATES", should shut the h*** up and perhaps go back to AFRICA.

[mcv57]

I believe he would forgive him, but I think Crowley would rather rot in hell for eternity with the rest of the confederates before he apologizes. Hate to the last drop of blood - remember the Civil War.

[mcv57]

Your testimony proves my conclusion. The mexican community are racist also (I am living proof, my stepfather is mexican immigrant and a racist - Evil is evil is hate).

[michaelhm1]

I have a couple of thoughts on this subject. First, I was optimistic for Obama especially on health care reform. I?m afraid this ?stupidity? has derailed it. Secondly, are we back to ?you?re a racist? rhetoric? I think this argument is more about control than anything else...that?s too bad. Finally, all I have to say to all the parties involved and I mean this sincerely is, GROW UP YOU BUNCH OF BIG BABYS.

[Vet_Turner]

You simply can't arrest someone on their own property just because he is being a jerk. You're talking about taking someone's freedom away temporarily and you can't do that without a really good reason. Cops cry too much. "It is a difficult job; it is dangerous; we have to take all precautions because some people carry weapons." If you don't want to act reasonably, then go find something else to do. This is not say that Gates was not being a ****** but let the cops who should be able to set that aside, set it aside and deal with the situation.

[platteman]

Uppity black liberal college professor who is upper middle class don't like being asked questions by a lower class white police officer.

Of course they are playing the race card. When in doubt, always play the race card, we see that with Barry, Rev. Al. Rev. Jesse and of course Prof. Gates.

[kathymac06]

Wow, can she just go away?

[CiCiTexas]

twocentsworth wrote:
Let's assume "race had nothing to do with it". "Mouthy and disrespectful" are covered by the first amendment. Once Mr Gates was identified as the resident,


The problem with this is Mr. Gates didn't wait to be identified as the resident. He launched in to a tyrade and disrupted those who were actually attempting to protect his residence. Mr. Gates would be crying racism and foul if some black individuals had acquired his school ID and the police believed the robbers without checking the facts.

People of ALL races in the US are tired of this sort of behavior. This is a defining moment for Obama.

[panola60]

Gates claimed that his front door had been tampered with when he arrived home, so why wasn't Gates worried about whether there was someone in the house?

Shouldn't Gates have taken the opportunity to tell the police that when he arrived home, he discovered evidence of a break-in? Why didn't he seek Crowley's help with that?

However instead of Gates seeking help from the police for the break-in he thought had occurred, he became irate with his racist rants and "yo mama" hate talk and even initially refused to show his ID.

Obviously his version of the story just doesn't make sense.

[mcv57]

If you trust or believe what the cop said, given their long, long history of corruption and abuse (especially with blacks), you are the with problem.

[Waseemn]

Hi All

I think for someone to be described as "... a prominent black scholar and Harvard professor?" and yet have his ego get in the way of police business, is shameful and childish.

As a security officer, not even a sworn Peace Officer, I have to deal with this kind of people every day with no exceptions.

This shows us how respectful our society has become, when a prominent man with such distinction acts as an illiterate gang banger. How can we expect anyone to act civilly after this fiasco? What should we expect from high school drop outs?

Our society is rotting to the core and no one is paying attention. Our society needs a wake up call, and a quick one if I should ask for one.

A Lack of education, coupled with a lack of morals, mixed with a lack of dignity leads to these kinds of instances. Abolish MEism and lets all work together for the betterment of our society. Wake Up America.

[MOS_PD]

lavacaman - Aside from your multitude inaccuracies - let me point out that your definition of Disorderly Conduct is wrong - you are implying the charge of Assault or Harassment, depending on where you reside and the penal law of that state. Disorderly Conduct is basically any intentional cause of public alarm in a public place - that a reasonable person would find as alarming - such as yelling "FIRE" in a move theater - or causing a crowd to be alarmed by yelling "RACISM" - you are a typical jailhouse lawyer - having been in law enforcement for 26 years I have seen your kind one too many times - now go back and turn the TV on to Perry Mason - but do not interpret law unless you know what you are talking about - you're just another useless tool.

On note of the subject - Gates' daughter states the officer is "uncooperative" - I guess she should be used to that having been brought up by a person with the implied same problem - for being a daughter of a Harvard Scholar, she sure is an idiot!