We’ve read the accounts by Officer Crowley and the other policeman. We don’t know how accurate these accounts are. Nor do we know if Crowley’s “actions at the scene of this matter were consistent with his training, with the informed policies and practices of the department and with applicable legal standards,” as the Cambridge police have asserted (just click here). We don’t know what those “informed policies and practices” are. And alone among American observers, we don’t know what actually happened.
We do know perfect crap when we read it, and we know a bit of American history. We don’t know what happened at Professor Gates’ house. But we know a famous old tale when we read it. Imagined in one unflattering way, this tale has been told many times.
This seems a stupid observation to me. Of course none of us were actually there. But we do know what Officer Crowley wrote in his report and if Officer Crowley's behavior comports with the "informed policies and practices" of the Cambridge Police Department, then it should be obvious to any sentient being that in fact those policies and practices are damn stupid. From a different link than Bob's:
Cambridge police commissioner Robert Haas said Sergeant James Crowley "acted in a way that is consistent with his training at the department and consistent with national standards of law enforcement protocol. . . ."
President Barack Obama, the country's first black president, accused the police of acting "stupidly" when they arrested and handcuffed Gates at his own front door in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
. . . "This is an opportunity for us to reexamine our policies and procedures and I am confident that good will come out of this unfortunate situation that we deeply regret occurred," Haas said. Asked about Obama's criticism, Haas said: "This department is deeply pained and takes its professional pride seriously."
Indeed. Time to take the opportunity to do something about a policy that is obviously stupid to most observers. From beginning to end, this entire affair has been marred by stupidity.
At least Haas wants to try and avoid it in the future. Some people, Officer Crowley, his union, Bob Somerby, seem unwilling to learn.
Speaking for me only
