Massachusetts Police Officer James Crowley, the officer who arrested Henry Louis Gates, a black scholar, for disorderly conduct after Gates was found attempting to enter his own home after he had been locked out, arrived in California and was cheered by law enforcement officials.
He is apparently on a national triumphal tour of some kind.
The case, which sparked charges of racism, became national when President Obama, who knows Gates, called Crowley 's actions "stupid." Outraged police officers across the country demanded contrition from Obama, who recanted.
Crowley now seems to be enjoying this notoriety.
Let's look at this logically. Why is Crowley a hero? What is his achievement that he deserves this VIP treatment?
Here's the achievement. Crowley found a black scholar trying to enter his own home. When it was established it was Gates' home, according to the officer, Gates exhibited disrespect toward the officer. The officer, Crowley , took Gates into custody charging him with "disorderly conduct," and took him down to the police station where Gates was released four hours later because the charge was groundless.
In other words, Crowley arrested Gates on charges that Crowley 's own superiors determined were baseless, false.
So naturally, Crowley is a hero.
He got Obama to apologize. Obama still thinks the action was stupid. So do I.
An intelligent response from Crowley would go something like this, "look Mister Gates, we came down here to protect your property because we heard a burglar was breaking in. Now, I'm sorry you're mad, and sorry for the inconvenience, but we're leaving."
And just leave. That's the end of it.
If it was really disorderly conduct, why was it thrown out?
It wasn't really disorderly conduct, because it was dismissed.
I think Crowley was flexing his badge a little too much, and just wanted to get some revenge on Gates for the alleged "disrespect" by the needless exercise of hauling him down to the police station. Once, again, Crowley 's own superiors didn't back his charge of "disorderly conduct."
Maybe the charge against Gates should have been, "hurt feelings."
Even black police officers back Crowley . Why? Here are 10 reasons why:
Police officers want to believe in the myth that they are so highly trained, it's impossible for one of them to use bad judgment.
Many police are conservatives who have little love for Obama.
A charge of racism, or racial profiling as it is called, is serious. Once again, officers consider an accusation against one of them as an accusation against all of them.
Police have to risk their lives protecting citizens. This produces a curious psychological quirk I call "You Owe Me" Syndrome. The policeman, feeling that he risks life and limb for the citizen, comes to view the citizen as an ungrateful cowardly ingrate who is not properly appreciative of this sacrifice. This leads to a finely-honed sensitivity where almost anything can be construed as disrespect. Even looking cross-eyed at someone. In other words, you should salute me, not insult me. You're under arrest.
It is not a crime to express displeasure at a police officer. The police evidently think it is. This is perhaps an expansion of unwritten power.
The system, law enforcement, like government, needs to function with the advantage given to its officers. This isn't necessarily bad. People risking their lives should be defended. But like in (5) above, it's easy to cross a line to the point that defending becomes lock-step cover-up.
There are many fine and great officers, but if the truth be known, just like in any organization, some aren't very intelligent. Some are maladjusted. Some are violent.
No system, not even the Pentagon, is perfect.
The white police as boys watched too many John Wayne movies.
Perhaps I will be arrested for writing this article. James will bail me out.
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