by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright July 24, 2009
All Rights Reserved.

         Engaged in a historic battle for national health care, President Barack Obama could ill-afford an media circus over a relatively inconsequential July 21 altercation between Harvard African studies scholar Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the Cambridge police.  While Obama lived in Cambridge attending Harvard Law School [1989-91], he showed no reluctance July 22 during a primetime press conference to say Cambridge Police “acted stupidly” for arresting Gates after proving he was the legal resident of the property investigated for burglary..  Barack was ahead of the curve realizing the mishap should have been handled differently.  While arresting Sgt. James Crowley refuses to publicly apologize and has support of his police union, the Cambridge Police abruptly dropped all charges, realizing they made foolish mistake.  Arresting suspects without cause is always regrettable.

             Obama’s politically incorrect remarks fueled a media frenzy, giving right wing groups a chance to divert attention from national health care. When asked to comment at the end of a lengthy press conference on health care, Barack talked about racial issues, especially racial profiling, something he worked hard to ban while serving in the Illinois State Senate.  Obama's  remarks sparked an angry reaction from Dennis O’Connor, President of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, calling Barack’s remarks “misdirected” and they “deeply resent the implication” about race.  Yet O’Connor didn’t elaborate about what he meant by “misdirected.”  Something went very wrong with 11-year veteran Sgt. Crowley arresting the 58-year-old African American Harvard scholar.  A cursory computer background check would have alerted Crowley he was making a terrible mistake.

            What O’Connor didn’t admit was that Crowley used horrendous judgment and should be evaluated for fitness for duty.  Police officials hastened to point out that Crowly taught classes on “racial diversity” at the Lowell Police Academy for five years.  They couldn’t account for how he could be so racially insensitive.  Fellow CPD Sgt. Leon Lashley, who was present at the time of Gates’ arrest, called Crowley’s actions “a little bit stranger that it should have been.”  While pressure to support Crowley, Lashley raises what’s in fact “misdirected” about Gate’s inappropriate arrest.  If you give Crowley the benefit of the doubt and he’s not racist, then the issue points directly to a question of bad judgment.  Crowley showed blinding insensitivity to a black man’s experience accused of breaking into his own home.  Once Gates’ ID was confirmed, Crowley should have apologized and gone home.

            Whatever words were exchanged between Gates and Crowley, Crowley overreacted, retaliating with a false arrest, subjecting Gates to undue harassment and humiliation.  Well-trained police officers don’t allow their temper or egos to get the better of them.  Arresting citizens without cause goes to the heart of abusive policing, using the badge for personal gratification.  Once Crowley made the positive ID, he should have graciously walked away, regardless of the words exchanged.  There’s no crime in Gates pointing out that Crowley’s actions looked like racial profiling or harassment.  “The facts of the case suggested that the president used the right adjective [“stupid”] but directed it to the wrong party,” said O’Connor, totally ignoring the fact that CPD dropped the charges.  It’s not intelligent to make false arrests. Unwarranted arrests expose the Department and city to unnecessary civil liability.

               Obama’s initial reaction characterized a regrettable incident for Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Department.  A simple background check would have alerted Crowley to Gates’ identity, ending any concern about a possible crime.  Crowley’s stubborn refusal to apologize for what amounts to a false arrest should alert his supervisors that he’s under stress or has personal problems impairing his ability to responsibly conduct his duties.  O’Connor has also harmed his Department’s credibility by defending the indefensible.  No matter how hot under the collar Gates’ got, it’s not a crime warranting arrest.  Dropping “disorderly conduct” charges quickly indicates that the arresting officer made a mistake.  Calling Gates’ arrest “every black man’s nightmare,” Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick expressed the commons views of many African Americans.

            Cambridge Police should immediately issue an unambiguously public apology to Prof. Gates.  Police union president O’Connor and Sgt. Crowley should cease-and-desist justifying the inexcusable.  Barack’s initial reaction, while politically incorrect, was 100% right that is wasn’t too bright to make a false arrest.  While Crowley once taught “racial diversity,” he needs a refresher course to show more sensitivity, avoid future incidents and reduce liability to himself and his department.  When peace officers don’t control their own tempers, they expose themselves and departments increased risk and civil liability.  Police unions, too, should show more balance than blindly supporting substandard behavior and pointing fingers at elected officials.  Public officials have every right to call events as they see them.  But they should also consider that other factors contribute to big mistakes.

John M. Curtis write politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2002 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.