Cambridge Cops Want Obama Apology

Police "Deeply Resent" Implication of Racial Profiling in Controversial Arrest; Obama Calls Own Remarks "Unfortunate"

(CBS/AP)  A multiracial group of police officers on Friday stood with the white officer who arrested a prominent black Harvard scholar and asked President Barack Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick to apologize for comments the union leaders called insulting.

Mr. Obama said Wednesday that Cambridge police "acted stupidly" during the disorderly conduct arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr., in his own home near Harvard University. Gov. Deval Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare."

"We hope they will reflect on their past comments and apologize to the Cambridge Police Department," said Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association.

Hours after the union news conference, Mr. Obama interrupted the White House press briefing to announce he had spoken to Crowley and said it was unfortunate that his comments had inflamed the situation.

While Mr. Obama said he "could have calibrated his words differently," he stopped short of apologizing for his remarks.

He called Crowley a "good man" and said the incident was likely an "overreaction" on the part of both Gates and Crowley.

O'Connor said Mr. Obama's remarks were "misdirected" and the Cambridge police "deeply resent the implication" that race was a factor in the arrest.

"President Obama said the actions of the CPD were stupid and linked the event to the history of racial profiling in America," O'Connor said. "The facts of the case suggested that the president used the right adjective but directed it to the wrong party."

A black police officer who was at Gates' home when he was arrested said he fully supports how his Crowley handled the situation.

Sgt. Leon Lashley said Gates was probably tired and surprised when Sgt. James Crowley demanded identification from him as officers investigated a report of a burglary. Lashley says Gates' reaction to Crowley was "a little bit stranger than it should have been."

Gates has said he was the victim of racial profiling, but when asked if Gates should have been arrested, Lashley said supported Crowley "100 percent."

Lashley called Mr. Obama's remark "unfortunate" and said he should be allowed to take it back.

Crowley was present at the news conference, but did not speak.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said earlier Friday that Mr. Obama "has said everything he's going to say" on the issue.

But Mr. Obama walked in on Gibbs' afternoon press briefing to discuss the matter further with the press.

Officers responded to Gates' home on July 16 after a woman called 911 and said she saw two black men with backpacks trying to force open the front door. The woman, Lucia Whalen, has not responded to repeated attempts for comment.

Gates has said he returned from an overseas trip, found the door jammed, and that he and his driver attempted to force it open. Gates went through the back door and was inside the house on the phone with the property's management company when police arrived.

Police said he flew into a verbal rage after Crowley asked him to show identification to prove he should be in the home. Police say Gates accused Crowley of racial bias, refused to calm down and was arrested. The charge was dropped Tuesday, but Gates has demanded an apology, calling his arrest a case of racial profiling.

Gates, 58, maintains he turned over identification when asked to do so by the police. He said Crowley arrested him after the professor followed him to the porch, repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number because he was unhappy over his treatment.

Crowley has refused to apologize, saying he followed protocol.

In the wake of the controversy, Crowley has received consistent support from his fellow officers.

Patrolman Carlos Figueroa, who was also at the scene of the incident, said he and Crowley were investigating a report of a burglary at Gates' home near Harvard University, and they needed to be sure everyone was in the house legally. He said that's why Crowley asked Gates for his identification.

Figueroa said Gates shouted "No, I will not!" He also says Gates was shouting at Crowley, calling him a racist and saying, "This is what happens to black men in America!"

Figueroa told The Associated Press on Friday that he and Crowley did what they were supposed to do.

Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas, in his first public comments on the arrest, said Thursday that Crowley was a decorated officer who followed procedure. The department is putting together an independent panel to review the arrest, but Haas said he did not think the whole story had been told.

"Sgt. Crowley is a stellar member of this department. I rely on his judgment every day. ... I don't consider him a rogue cop in any way," Haas said. "I think he basically did the best in the situation that was presented to him."

Related Coverage:

Cambridge Cops Want Obama Apology

White House: No More To Say On Gates

He said, He said Saga in Cambridge

Gates' Daughter Calls Crowley Uncooperative

Cambridge Cops Back Crowley

White House: Obama Didn't Call Officer Stupid

Prof. Gates, Cambridge and Racial Politics

Cop Who Cuffed Gates Tried to Save NBA Pro

Cambridge Cop: Gates' Arrest by the Book

Gates Devastated by Arrest, Says Daughter

Obama: Cops Acted "Stupidly" in Professor's Arrest

Black Professor Wants Apology over Arrest

Was Professor's Arrest 'Racial Profiling'?

Gates Speaks out about His Arrest

Charges Against Harvard Scholar Dropped

Profiling Charge In Black Scholar's Arrest

[globalcoolin]

As I said--the DNC wages discrimination campaigns against cops (Obama, now) and military people (Boxer and her rude comments to an Army General) and also achievers, Christians and gun owners....
... just talk to any strong lib and listen to what comes out of the hole under the noses about any of these 5 people!
American Liberals are NOT opposed to discrimination at all! Discrimination campaigns and hate are their banner for social and political movement!
Has Obama and Boxer opened any eyes this last two weeks?

[mary-miami]

The President does not have to apologize to anyone. He's the boss.
If anybody has the right to say what he wants, the President can.
Further more, the cops were acting as racial bigots; had it been a white man, once he showed I.D. the cops would've apologized to the man. The only reason the black cops are supporting the white one, is because some cops act like a fraternity and always back each other, right or wrong. If the Whalen woman lived on that street, how could she not know that Gates was a neighbor? Didn't she ever see him going in and out of that house? She won't even talk to the press. Why?

[EyeCeeUs]

I believe that once the tapes are released so the public will be able to hear the comments used the truth will come out.

JUST AS WHEN THEY FIND OUT Mr. OBAMA ISN"T EVEN AMERICAN BORN Eyes will be opened

[proudmilvet]

Ah, Good. "Racist Punks" That should get the healing process started!

[tramplers]

As more and more of the story comes out it is supporting the police. This was a black man who flew off the handle and thought he was being singled out for being black. The cops were just doing there jobs. No matter what people are saying about free speach, it is not a good idea to continue shouting and getting in a cops face. Yes you can question them, and possibly curse at them. Depending on how far you go, they can arrest you for "disturbing the peace" which is what was done. Yes it is a judgement call and the charges may get dropped but unless there is OVERWHELMING evidence that the cop was out of line he will not get in trouble.

I am guessing that since both have calmed down both have thought about what they could have done differently. This is something that never should have gone that far.

As far as our president commenting on it, he never should have. he was basically using his influence to stand up for a friend or aquaintance only getting one side of the story. Yes he owes the police department an apology. He has apologized to half of the world in the past couple of months, one more won't matter.