If you are in your own home.. you identify this is your home..

[Peacetrain]

How the heck can you get arrested? End of story.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I think the professor's attitude

of being enraged at the cops while being black had a lot to do with it. Cops always expect deferential treatment, even when they are in the wrong.

[WolverineDG]

2. Cops are supposed to be trained to deal with people in stressful situations

that includes people who are pissed off. If cops banged on my door, threatening to arrest me for breaking into my own house, I'd be pissed off too.

dg

[peace13]

5. They are supposed to use their skills to avoid escalating the confrontation.

Now days I don't feel like that is their priority. Tasers and an attitude that citizens are to do as they are told equal a very toxic relationship.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Bingo

I think the key point here is he was arrested AFTER he proved who he was and that he was indeed in his own house.

[alcibiades_mystery]

9. Billions of dollars in "training," and every cop claiming to be a "law enforcement PROFESSIONAL"

Fine, then. Act like a PROFESSIONAL and stop arresting people because you feel PERSONALLY disrespected. If we're paying all this money for training professionals, they need to stop acting based on purely personal grounds. Should I fail a student because he or she acts disrespectfully towards me, or should I simply grade the work? A professional puts aside personal animus and analyzes the situation professionally. A professional doesn't go around arresting people because they call him or her names. As soon as Gates showed ID, the investigation was OVER. The cop should have left, and even gritted his teeth through the tirade and left. That's what a professional would do. Gates was causing no threat, nor was he disturbing any order whatsoever.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. I agree

I'm thinking the problem was his skin color!

[JerseygirlCT]

17. I've witnessed a few times when that was definitely not the case

unfortunately it seems there are some people who go into that line of business because they like to push people around. Any attempt to oppose that, and you find yourself in cuffs. IOW, they haven't learned even the least modicum of self-control and have chosen a career where they can be bullies with impunity.

[bobburgster]

3. Impressed with Obama....

for stating the obvious....the Cambridge police acted stupidly.

[peace13]

4. When the police ask to see your papers ....

you best be digging for them. I was in the passenger seat of a car when a deer jumped to its ugly death in front of us. After the accident the State Trooper asked to see MY drivers license. I told him that I didn't mean to be rude but I didn't know that I needed a license to ride in a car. White officer, white woman asking. He told me that if I were injured the insurance company would need proof that I was in the car. I let him see my license but I will never do that again. I will tell my name and address and that is it. Now, if I were Black or Hispanic don't know if I would have questioned the necessity. I can see where the trouble starts but I understand why citizens feel the need to stand up for their rights.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Amen

I strongly agree. Of course Gates was upset. Who wouldn't be? Cop should have apologized and left. End of story.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. Contempt of cop

Gates was being "disorderly" because he insulted the poor police officer.

Under this standard, I plan to fail the next student who disrespects me, regardless of his or her actual grade on the exam.

:sarcasm:

[The Wizard]

10. Police are

inculcated with the idea that it's them against the world, and everyone who's not a cop is the enemy.
I believe this paranoia really took hold during the Nixon Administration when he was the "law and order" (code for keeping minorities in their proper place)president.
Ask a cop why he stopped you and get charged with resisting arrest. Any wonder why we lead the world in prison population?

[aikoaiko]

12. You could do a lot of things to get yourself arrested in that situation

...but it doesn't appear that Gates did any.

[krispos42]

13. You shouldn't be.

Unless the cops see something illegal while investigating the report of the break-in.


"Ah, I do see that this is your house, Mr. Johnson. Say, is that weed I smell?"

[TexasObserver]

14. Yes, police are not supposed to enter your home without your permission.

Unless they have a warrant, or there exist exigent circumstances. Of course, over the past several decades, the GOP justices have made "exigent circumstances" effectively carte blanche to bust in any time they damn well fill like it.

[TrogL]

15. I wouldn't be able to do so

There are no family pictures on the walls, we don't have the wall space - it's all book cases.

I'm carrying picture ID, but the picture's so old I don't look like that anymore.

My passport's in my safety deposit box where it belongs.

I'd know passwords, alarm codes and things, but how does the cop know it isn't hacked.

The best way would be fingerprints, but that means a trip downtown and I'm going to say no and want my lawyer.

[dionysus]

16. well, obviously if someone sees you forcing the door open... they'll probably call the cops