[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I'm sure race played some role - after all, the caller identified two black men, so regardless of the officer's biases it would be the identifying factor. I'm not nearly as interested in the officer's response - after all, he's responding to a report - but rather the original call . . . would the caller have reported two white men in the same situation? Certainly, if she thought it was a legitimately suspicious behavior, it's incumbent upon her to report it - is it suspicious if it's two white guys?

I can imagine being pissed (during the incident) if I were Dr. Gates - it's my home, and I'm not doing anything wrong in the slightest. Many police departments train officers to enter homes very liberally compared with privacy/Constitutional rights, and I'd imagine Dr. Gates felt he knew his rights better than most - that doesn't mean the officer did the right/wrong thing, but rather that it's a factor leading to potential anger. I'd be irate, and probably would have been cited for interference with official acts at the least (hence why the officer's behavior is comparatively uninteresting).

I would guess that the charges will be dropped, if for nothing else than to allow for a public apology and to save face for the CPD. Past that, though, how much further should he really 'push' this?

When I say "push" I mean there should be more of an investigation into how often this is occurring. I wonder if the charges really WILL be dropped or if they will "make an example out of him," since he informed them that they didn't know who they were messing with.