[Kevin]

I think the charge against Gates is still open to interpretation. I take the ACLU's opinion with a grain of salt when it comes to 1st Amendment issues.... and the ACLU office in Boston, Mass? Most definitely.

As to the charge that the officer improperly withheld his name and badge number? Yeah, I think he should probably get written up for that or whatever they do to discipline officers for ticky-tack violations.

Finally, its assertion that Gates was under no duty to provide ID is dead wrong. The officer most certainly had probable cause to investigate burglary. He was sent to a house looking for two black men who "broke into" the home carrying backpacks. That, whether or not the characterization is correct in the final analysis is absolutely perfect probable cause. The officer was entitled to continue to gather facts to make sure everything was as it should be. An irate man calling the officer a racist and pretending to call the chief of police is something which would probably only heighten the ordinary officer's level of suspicion.

Like I said, other than a ticky-tack violation, I see nothing wrong with how this officer handled himself.