Obama '08?

What would have happened if the officers had attempted to leave?

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

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What would have happened if the officers had attempted to leave?

nobody knows, but the cops should only have elected to make the arrest instead of continuing the attempt to leave if they felt that they could have put themselves into physical danger by continuing to try to leave. If it were to become clear that the cops did not precieve risk at continuing the attempt to leave without ending the confrontation first then I would need to change my position and agree with you that this was an abuse of police power.

The police were already attempting to leave, and Gates was not being cooperative in letting them leave. The situation at that point had become so charged that predicting future actions by gates and the crowd was dicey. I have no problems with cops erring on the side of staying safe in that situation.

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Every subject has a right to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his houses, his papers, and all his possessions.”

Meaningless until "unreasonable" is defined.

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The D.A. had no case against Gates and attempted prosecution would have only served to increase the damages Gates could seek in his slam dunk case against the city. That's why it was dropped like a hot potato, with apologies no less.

Really? Please document your claim. The reports that I have seen only state the the arrest was not pursued, there is no word on who it was that ended the process, it could have been a police supervisor or it could have been the DA. There is also no report of any apology. You are making facts up again aren't you.....

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What would have happened if the officers had attempted to leave?

nobody knows, but the cops should only have elected to make the arrest instead of continuing the attempt to leave if they felt that they could have put themselves into physical danger by continuing to try to leave. If it were to become clear that the cops did not precieve risk at continuing the attempt to leave without ending the confrontation first then I would need to change my position and agree with you that this was an abuse of police power.

The police were already attempting to leave, and Gates was not being cooperative in letting them leave. The situation at that point had become so charged that predicting future actions by gates and the crowd was dicey. I have no problems with cops erring on the side of staying safe in that situation.

Are driving licenses considered documents that are protected by the 4th amendment? Can't a officer sieze someone's DL? Isn't it a different class of document than others.

You're talking yourself in circles here. If the police feared a riot because having conflict with Gates might flare up tension, then furthering that conflict would only serve to put them in MORE danger, not less. It makes no sense that the would be in more danger by leaving.

I don't think the cop was justified in arresting him...I just don't see his fault as being any greater (or lesser) than Gates.

The cop is a blue collar run of the mill average joe. Gates is a 60 year old Harvard Professor.

Gates was, in my view, trying to incite a response from the officer AND/OR the crowd, there is no other justification for HIS actions (which had begun to occur before the officer had completed his duty). Anger is not justification to insult somebody the way he did to that officer, nor to insult his family. Gates was arrogant ("you don't know who you're messing with!"), disrespectful, and frankly, he behaved is a manner that wouldn't even live up to the expectations of the students he teaches at Harvard. That behavior wouldn't be tolerated in an Alabama grade school, much less one of the Nation's most prestigious universities.

The officer, as has been discussed, abused his power, and probably tried to get a response from Gates as well.

It turned into a pissing contest between a cop who should have known better and a well educated Harvard professor who should have known better.


I do find it interesting that the left-leaning among us view EVERY case where race is involved, on the side of the minority. It's almost like they think minorities can do no wrong, and that EVERYTHING is race related. And conservatives, the opposite. There are few among us who I believe are able to look at things objectively (not claiming that I do).

No it couldn’t, moron. Cops don't press charges; prosecutors do. Hence, once written, it wouldn't be a cop who drops them. You are as ignorant as your positions are disgusting.

The Mayor acting in her official capacity said ,"I am very pleased that the charges of disorderly conduct levied against Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. have been dropped. The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Police Department, and Professor Gates have released a joint statement that acknowledges “….the incident of July 16, 2009 was regrettable and unfortunate.” Why would a mayor or police department regret a righteous bust, let alone publicly state as much? That reads like an apology in my book… and the result remains the same.

The cop in question INVITED Gates outside, AFTER he showed ID. How the **** was Gates hindering them from leaving? Time to change your position I guess.

The report also makes no mention of the cop ever perceiving risk

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No it couldn’t, moron. Cops don't press charges; prosecutors do. Hence, once written, it wouldn't be a cop who drops them. You are as ignorant as your positions are disgusting.

when a beat cop makes an arrest either his supervisor or the DA can drop the charges.

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The Mayor acting in her official capacity said ,"I am very pleased that the charges of disorderly conduct levied against Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. have been dropped. The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Police Department, and Professor Gates have released a joint statement that acknowledges “….the incident of July 16, 2009 was regrettable and unfortunate.” Why would a mayor or police department regret a righteous bust, let alone publicly state as much? That reads like an apology in my book… and the result remains the same.

I with all candor could issue a statement that said “….the incident of July 16, 2009 was regrettable and unfortunate.” , and then nitwit Bill would think that I was apologizing....check. The chief of police was saying that his cop made a good bust, there is not way that this was an admission of wrong doing, it was not contrition.