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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jul 23, 2009 - 04:31pm PT
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This is being reported as possible racial profiling but it's really a case of a cop who couldn't stay professional.
I read the police report. An ID was shown, and Gates was tirading on the officer claiming racism. The cop should have been professional, rose above it and left. But he took it personal and arrested him for disorderly conduct on his own property.
As I said on other threads, these incidents occur when someone is disrespectful to a cop and the cop uses their power to arrest them (or worse beat them or tazer them)out of spite. I'm usually polite to cops, but others are incapable of that, the cops should recognize that and be professional.
Gates is at fault for claiming racism, when it was reported someone was breaking into his house, which he was. He should understand how that looked and appreciated the cops were watching his house.
But really the cop was at fault for arresting someone in their own house because he was being thin skinned and couldn't take someone yelling at him. Powertripper.
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Bill Sherman
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 04:37pm PT
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The idiot should not have been yelling at a cop regardless of whether he was in the right or not. As much as we would like it not to be, many cops are on a power trip and will start off even telling you something along those lines. Ultimately, it is their decision as to what your fate is going to be at that moment.
Granted, this was in the media, but supposedly there were witnesses that claim that Gates was using the "yo momma" line several times with the cop (Cop: Sir, let's please discuss this outside. Gates: You can discuss it with yo mamma outside.)
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Bill Sherman
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 04:41pm PT
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Rokjox, I have to agree. I knew a guy when I lived in Montana who was interviewing with the Seattle Police force. He came back from the interview and told me of the manner in which the police treated most of the people they stopped during his visit. He said he didn't think he would have gotten a second look if he didn't rough some guys up while he was riding with them.
When he went back, the guys all instructed him on what to say to the Department Psychologist in order to pass the test. They wanted someone who was rough and could and would push people around.
This guy had previously been in the military and they liked that fact as well.
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dirtbag
climber
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Jul 23, 2009 - 04:44pm PT
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The Fet's explanation makes a lot of sense to me.
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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jul 23, 2009 - 04:44pm PT
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So "yo mamma" is out of bounds to say to a cop? I wonder what else is? "This is unfair!". "You are wrong!" should probably be added to the list of things said to a cop that will get your arrested for no good reason.
How much time and money is being wasted on this arrest instead of fighting actual crime?
It's good that this is in the news. I hope they examine the real issue of abuse of power.
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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:03pm PT
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t*r your predjudices are showing. Dont' pretend to understand what other people are capable of.
The officer tought a class to be aware of racial profiling.
Was there racism when someone called in a break in cause the "perps" were black not white, quite possibly. Did the officer act racist, possibly. What we do know is that is the guy was arrested in his own house because he was yelling at the cop. And I understand their are witnesses to the "yo mamma" comments. But I feel you should have the freedom of speech to say that anyway.
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:06pm PT
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Stupid arrest? of course it is? Why waste time having to write a report on that? Racist, I don't buy that. The officer taught the Academy's racial profiling course, and was previously the hero for trying to save an african-american with CPR.
I thought the more interesting story is how racist and ignorant the esteemed Harvard professor is. Playing his credentials and the race-card? He should have thanked the officer for responding and answered his questions politely, instead of playing the POS victim, imo.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:08pm PT
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Can we expand the thread to include whether Gates acted stupidly?
Does anyone want to take the position that making "your momma" statements to a cop who is responding to and investigating a breaking and entering call (and you were just seen breaking and entering) is not "stupid."
Seems incredibly unpresidential for Obama to get in the middle of this, especially when he admits he doesn't really know what happened. Neither do any of us, although most of us have a pretty good guess: Gates acted like an arrogant hotheaded prick, cop then overreacted and made a bullshit arrest.
Let's see if Obama supporters have the guts to admit that, just as the cop was "stupid," so was Gates and so was Obama, and move on.
Edit--atchafalaya's comment came out when I was typing mine--pretty much says the same thing in a slightly different way.
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the Fet
Supercaliyosemistic climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:12pm PT
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Yes, yes, yes.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:15pm PT
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I thought the more interesting story is how racist and ignorant the esteemed Harvard professor is. Playing his credentials and the race-card? He should have thanked the officer for responding and answered his questions politely, instead of playing the POS victim, imo.
yep.
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Bill Sherman
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:17pm PT
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The main thing that irks me about this whole shenanigan is Obama getting involved. When is he actually going to do something that really matters? His bailout plan doubled our national debt which now means increased taxes for us and it didn't do anything to curtail unemployment or the falling housing market and now his healthcare reform is being pushed back to October at the earliest. I'm somewhat thankful for that as I don't see how we would possibly be able to support a $1.5 trillion plan to insure all Americans, legal or not.
Back to the point, getting involved in something that is on a local level like that is as bad as me going over to the local elementary school and condemning the actions of a bully on the playground. It's none of my business and there are teachers and a principal there to take care of those sorts of things.
The only reason the Mayor made a public apology is due to Obama's involvement. I'm not a union supporter but this time I have to agree with them in backing up the Sargeant and refusing an apology.
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2009 - 05:24pm PT
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"This is being reported as possible racial profiling but it's really a case of a cop who couldn't stay professional."
Word. The cop was probably just trying to do his job but then got upset because Gate kept calling him a racist.
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rectorsquid
climber
Lake Tahoe
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:26pm PT
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So two guys are in an argument. One has the capability of shouting, yelling, saying ugly stuff, etc.., and the other guy has the capability to do all of that and to arrest the other guy. It looks like the cop won the argument.
In addition to that, the cop is doing his job. The guy shouting at him that he is a racists is interfering with that job. I would have cuffed him for interfering with an officer performing his duty. Then I'd let him sit for a few minutes and maybe understand his predicament, apologize to him for the inconvenience and tell him that maybe this is a big understanding and then let him go.
But then I'm not an idiot that shouts at cops and I'm not an idiot cop that can't just leave it alone and move on to the next call.
Dave
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2009 - 05:27pm PT
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It's safe to say that atchafalaya and blahblah are (1) not black, and (2) do not have any close black friends.
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Norton
Social climber
the Wastelands
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:28pm PT
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Three people made mistakes.
The cop saw his ID, knew he lived there, and arrested him anyway.
Gates for assuming racism and reacting as such.
Obama for commenting on it. None of his business.
And yes blah blah, I am an Obama supporter, and I think
it was wrong of him to give his personal opinion.
Obama should stick to doing what he was elected to do, GOVERN.
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Bill Sherman
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:31pm PT
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Norton, great Summary.
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Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:33pm PT
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"I think it comes from a personality disorder."
Isn't that what they look for when hiring cops? And don't most who sign up for the academy already have some personality disorders? For one, anger and control issues.
And "this isn't fair" is definitely something that riles a cop up. Questioning their authority/actions when they are violating your rights usually doesn't yield good results either.
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atchafalaya
climber
Babylon
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Jul 23, 2009 - 05:39pm PT
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GC, I always read and appreciate your posts, but making up facts and talking out your ass just makes you look like an idiot.
Edit: I understand TR, its all good. I work with officers who teach racial profiling courses. The selection process for teachers is based upon a history of good interactions with the public, and having respect for people from all races and backgrounds. I think it says something good about the officer to have done that. Cheers,
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
Nowhere
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 23, 2009 - 05:40pm PT
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Let's not forget that most of what occurred happened inside of Gates' house, and that when he was arrested he was on his own porch just outside his front door.
Obama was put on the spot and asked about during a live press confidence. His answer was reasonable and it was appropriate for him to comment on this issue given that it was already a matter of wide national attention.
The police department and the city had already decided that the arrest was stupid and have publicly said as much (but not in those words).
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