It appears that another officer, Sgt. Leon Lashley, is in on the alleged/imagined conspiracy against Gates.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A black police officer who was at Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s home when the black Harvard scholar was arrested says he fully supports how his white fellow officer handled the situation.
Could it be that the white cop, Sgt Crowley, is not a racist after all? Nah. Is is possible that acting like an ass towards a cop is something best reserved for mentally defective teenagers. Not according to some. “Being a jerk is not illegal,” they say. This line of argument is a red herring. Being a jerk is not illegal. But!!! Acting out, like a jerk, and getting loud with the police can be illegal. Elements of Disturbing the Peace:
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
1. Make, continue, maintain or cause to be made or continued any excessive, unnecessary, unreasonable or unusually loud noise or any noise in such manner as to annoy, offend, disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of any reasonable person of normal auditory sensitivity residing in the area.
2. Use, operate or permit the use or operation of any electronic device, radio receiving set, television, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for the producing or reproducing of sound in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of any reasonable person of normal auditory sensitivity inhabiting the area.
3. Congregate because of, participate in or be in any party or gathering of people from which sound emanates of a sufficient volume so as to disturb the peace, quiet or repose of any reasonable person of normal auditory sensitivity residing in any residential area. No person shall visit or remain within any residential dwelling unit wherein such party or gathering is taking place except persons who have gone there for the sole purpose of abating said disturbance. A police officer may order all persons present in any group or gathering from the dwelling unit to immediately disperse in lieu of being charged under this Section.
From section 1, disturbing the peace includes making a loud noise that is annoying, offensive, or unreasonable. Gates was yelling that Officer Crowley is a racist. Gates was yelling ‘‘THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO BLACKMEN IN AMERICA.’ Gates was yelling at the police who were there to protect his property. Gates was fitting the bill for section 1 above, and venting what is obviously a lot of pent up hatred towards Sgt. Crowlely, who is white.
The police were responding to a report that two black men with backpacks had broken into a home. Officer Crowly followed SOP, for the sake of his safety and Gates’s safety. Gates repaid Crowly by calling him a racist and insulting his mother. Henry Louis Gates was disturbing the peace and acting like an insufferable ass. His pal, President Obama, is still busy pulling his foot out of his mouth. Sgt Crowle, after being phoned by Obama, says he still supports the President.
Maybe Gates should learn something about grace and forgiveness from Crowley instead of trying to teach Crowley a lesson or two about race in America. Maybe the President could learn a thing or two about keeping his mouth shut until he has had time to learn something about the topic in question.