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Response to National Racial Debate: Gates, Crowley and The President
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Dr. Richard Weinblatt
Dr. Richard B. Weinblatt, Ed.D., M.P.A., is the former Director of the Institute for Public Safety for Central Ohio Technical College and an ex Police Chief. He previously served as a professor and program manager for the Criminal Justice Institute at Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL. He holds the Certified Law Enforcement Trainer (CLET) designation from the American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET). He has appeared on local and national television news programs and written extensively on law enforcement topics since 1990.
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Dr. Richard Weinblatt
March 12, 2010
Editor’s Note: This commentary from a member of the law enforcement community represents the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of PoliceLink.
Many Americans of all races have been immersed during the past two days by the intense emotional national debate surrounding the interaction between Cambridge, MA, Police sergeant James Crowley and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The first part of my response on the debate concerns the incident itself (which, as I will outline here has, two separate components). The second concerns the comments by President Barack Obama at his prime-time press conference viewed by some 25 million people.
Before the messages start to fly that I am one-sided, let me frame my perspective. As a college criminal justice educator, police expert media commentator, and former police chief, I have commented extensively on police situations. I have done so before on everything from law enforcement’s use of the Taser (which as a Taser instructor I support) to the Caylee Anthony case. In some cases I have defended officers on the scene and explained their perspective. But in others, I have eschewed the ‘circle the police wagon’ mentality.
In short, I call it how I see it based on commonly accepted police practices and an eye on the big picture of policing in America.
So, regarding the Professor Gates racial profiling case: I have read the Cambridge Police reports, as well as the relevant statutes in Massachusetts general law, and have several thoughts on the matter.
Sergeant Crowley was justified in investigating a possible crime in progress. As a uniformed badge bearer, he admirably volunteered to pick up the call of a suspected break in (as reported by a passing woman) since he was nearby in his unmarked unit. I applaud him for that. Based on what I read in his report, this married father employed good officer safety as the lone officer on the scene during the initial phases of the call.
However, I am concerned that Sgt. Crowley, as he himself stated in his official Cambridge Police report, was satisfied that the occupant, Professor Gates, was legally allowed to be in the dwelling and that no further danger was present. That, as experienced officers know from a law enforcement perspective, is the key phrase. It was at that point he should have left.
As a full-time law enforcer, I have walked away many times once my legal duty was done even with someone yelling at me. The courts have long ruled that people can yell at the police. People can be disrespectful as long as they are not interfering with an ongoing investigation or posing a threat to police officers who must remain on the scene. Sgt. Crowley and his colleagues, who were on scene by this point, did not need to remain there.
BrooklynHillsCop
6 months ago
9028 Comments
Strange...
This article was first published here last year, about 8 months ago.
Now, it is back with today's date... Why...?
Strange...
FCPD0341
6 months ago
526 Comments
I would wager to say "Dr" Weinblatt didn't spend alot of time on the street. Oh sure he has numerous certifications as an instructor but you know what they say....Those who can't do teach. This article is rubbish.
1160
about 1 year ago
2 Comments
The reason your not a doctor is because you need a bachelors degree.
gman2410
about 1 year ago
708 Comments
wow
vaccaroja
about 1 year ago
662 Comments
to clear things up... he was asked to step out on the porch for saftey reasons... why is this so difficult. Gates was out of line. End of story.
rod3245
about 1 year ago
524 Comments
Radarcop, If you are talking to me, I didn't suggest that the Sgt. had him step out onto the porch. What I stated was..."the arrest only happened after the suspect following him outside." I support the Sgt. 100% in this matter and I seldom critize officers no matter what is printed in the news because I wasn't there and I also make a practice of never second guessing officers.
You are totally correct that none of us know what was going through Sgt. Crowley's mind but it appears to me that he did everything correctly and we should all stand behind him.
radarcop
about 1 year ago
164 Comments
A few comments I must make - the as you put it "official report" I would like to see the first one he turned in - and being in Law Enforcement as you are - you do know that reports are turned back for re-writing - second you even said that "perhaps" Sgt Crowley met the elements of the crime but what should be important to all Law Enforcement Officers is that NONE of us were there so we don't know everything that Sgt Crowley was seeing, hearing, feeling. You suggested that Sgt Crowley may have had the Proffessor step out on the porch to be in "Public" - did you ever think that he had hime step out because it was a safer environment for the officer? The officer doesnot know the interior of the house and has no control of where the suspect goes or what they may be running to get - out on the porch the officer can see what the subject has access to and areas they have access to - I don't have the back ground that you do but I have been a street officer, a instructor at a Police Academy and a Sgt on the street - I still say all the facts are not written in the report.
rod3245
about 1 year ago
524 Comments
From the reports I read, the Officer was walking away from the situation after ignoring tons of insults and the arrest only happened after the suspect following him outside with more of his racist and disturbing disorderly comments. Since there were at least 8 neighbors standing on the sidewalk Gates' behavior now became illegal and so the Officer followed procedure and arrested him.
Reference gavintiegirl, it's obvious that she has no law enforcement experience and maybe she should not even be on this web site because she obviously does not support us.. Bye- bye gavintiegirl.
CptAmerica
about 1 year ago
28 Comments
I am rather new at this... but might "gavintiegirl" be trolling trying to provoke a certain response....?
Texas2step
about 1 year ago
7318 Comments
gavintiegirl
about 6 hours ago
2 comments
Based on the comments made on this site; which is a site for law enforcement; it is really disheartening to see the lack of support for your/our President. I truly hope that if a crisis every broke out in our country where you were called on to protect the President, I hope you would be able to see past his skin color and realize that he is a flesh and blood human, as you are.
I believe his first line of defense is highly trained Secret Service, with serveral other agencies that follow. However, even though there has been much discussion on this issue, I hardly think any LE would discriminate, or show lack of support.....the vast majority of LE follows the rules of non bias......I would hope the citizens on the street would act in kind.
Texas2step
about 1 year ago
7318 Comments
jlewis308
about 11 hours ago
24 comments
Ok.... WOW... you have to be kidding me. The piece is well written, but the info was very one sided. I remember an old saying, "Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach."
Thank God there are those that can do BOTH!!
SeanJon
about 1 year ago
246 Comments
gavintiegirl, if a crisis ever broke out in the country where we would be needed to protect the president, we have bigger problems on our hands. The president is an elected official. My duty is to protect the constitution and the American people first.
Your labeling of us as racists basing our actions on skin color is extremely insulting. Are you trying to imply that caucasian officers disagree with the president and African American officers agree with him? What are you trying to say here?
Furthermore, I don't care what the president's heritage is. We are allowed to disagree with him when he is out of line or wrong. Or are you suggesting that we should be sheep? Oh, and by the way, we are supporting a brother officer who we have far more in common with, and speaking from experience we agree with his actions.
gavintiegirl
about 1 year ago
2 Comments
Based on the comments made on this site; which is a site for law enforcement; it is really disheartening to see the lack of support for your/our President. I truly hope that if a crisis every broke out in our country where you were called on to protect the President, I hope you would be able to see past his skin color and realize that he is a flesh and blood human, as you are.
jlewis308
about 1 year ago
46 Comments
Ok.... WOW... you have to be kidding me. The piece is well written, but the info was very one sided. I remember an old saying, "Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach."
Looks like the Doc is trying to get into a position to get paid during the Civil Suit to me....
CptAmerica
about 1 year ago
28 Comments
Desertfox1a:
If the arrest does not conform to ANY state or local statute or law - then it is false arrest... Sgt is suspended and sued in civil court. internal Affairs has already wrapped up up it's investigation and that is not an issue... so the Dr/Chief and you are wrong (for repeating it).
Don't throw 'red herrings' out there such as the tactics used ... that's as local as it gets... they do the job they see as fit. I have seen many responses that shock me... but when the dust settles and talk centers around why... that's the way we do it here is often heard... there are NO nation wide standards for every repsonse by the police...
BUT there is a standard of behavior that should be enforced... person to person respect...
considering that Gates will never raise his hand to a sworn document over this incident and Crowley already has and has had the statement and his verbal recount of this scrutinized by all sorts... and his is still standing tall...
I believe Crowley...
lastly....
If you act like Gates when confronted by the police
DON'T COME "drive through or visit our communities"... seriously... there are enough really bad people out there that want to hurt cops... no one in law enforcement needs rebel rousers like Gates...Al, Jesse, West, Conyers, et al... wasting our time...