Assholes and Officers

The arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Gates is not about race. At least, it shouldn't be.

Sergeant James Crowly, a white officer, responded to a report of a possible break-in in a upscale neighborhood in Cambridge at about noon last Thursday. Upon arriving at the scene, Crowly found the house to be occupied by Henry Gates, a 58-year-old black man. Henry Gates had just returned from an overseas trip, and found his front door to be jammed shut. His (also black) driver had to force open the front door with his shoulder, causing a neighbor to call the police. By all accounts, Gates' attitude towards the officer was confrontational and belligerent. He initially refused to provide identification and repeatedly shouted things like "this is what happens to black men in America!" And, "I'll speak to your Mama."

Officer Crowly entered the home and was eventually able to determine Gates' identity and that he did live there. As Officer Crowly left, Gates continued his diatribe from the front porch of the home, at which point Officer Crowly arrested him for disorderly conduct. Charges were later dropped.

First, the arrest report does not mention why officer Crowly entered the residence uninvited. That is an issue.

Second, the arrest report states that once inside the home, Officer Crowly did ascertain that Gates lived there. This was Gates' home. The report says nothing about Officer Crowly ever feeling threatened by Gates, a 58-year-old disabled Professor who walks with a cane. The arrest was made simply because Gates wouldn't shut up.

Remove race. Let's consider: An officer, and an American.

An officer arrested an American in his own home, because the American was a dick to the officer.

It should not matter how belligerent Gates was being. Once the officer identified Gates as the resident of the home, he did his job in ascertaining that there was no break-in. He could have left. He should have left. Instead, he placed the American under arrest, because the American was an asshole.

We cannot allow police officers in this country to arrest Americans in their own homes because the Americans are assholes. There was no cause for arrest. The officer was wrong.


The report filed by arresting officer James Crowly via The Smoking Gun.