Hi,
When did it happen that a police officer would come to your home, and NOT show his ID?
Then, when the occupant asks for name and badge #, he still refuses to ID himself, at that point, is the Cambridge Police officer following Department rules? or not?
We in Cambridge finally got a "new" police commissioner to put an end to problems like this, but we still have some officers who believe thay can get away with it. Commissioner Robert Haas has worked hard to set a fine example for the police so they know what the standards are. Sgt James Crowley has repetedly violated these standards, to the shame of the other fine officers, who don't deserve to have their fine efforts smeared by Sgt James Crowley's sociopathic behavior.
I have a good relationship with both Neal Alpert, office of the Mayor, and Police Commissioner Robert Haas.
I am also an Mass Office on Disability, MOD, trained Community Access Monitor. I regularly monitor and document Mass Arch Access Board, State Safety Code violations, and Federal Civil Rights Act of 1990, the ADA, violations, and then bring them to the attention of the City, so the City can correct the violations, voluntarily, so it isn't necessary to file complaints. Unfortunately, there are those in the City of Cambridge that do not wish to comply with the ADA. I have a good relationship with the DPW, Superintendent of Streets and Sidewalks, Bill Dwyer. I am a founding member of Citizens of Feasible Compliance, a group of citizens who believe that the City should follow both State and Federal Law, and voluntarily comply with regulations and standards.
On Nov 6, 2008, Citizens for Feasible Compliance had a meeting with the Police Commissioner Robert Haas, Deputy Superintendent Steven Williams, the police legal advisor, Neal Alpert, myself and other member of Citizens for Feasible Compliance at the office of the Police Commissioner.
One of the items on the agenda was Sgt James Crowley's behavior towards myself.
We discussed his repeted threat to have me arrested, falsly accusing me of creating a disturbance, falsley accusing me of yelling at him, and an assortment of other lies. In fact, it was Sgt James Crowley who would show up at a construction site, and demand I leave, not take photos, get into my face, screaming and yelling, schreeching, like a stereotype of a drill sgt in a "B" movie. When I would show him my ID, and explain what I was doing, and BTW, I was in contact with DPW Bill Dwyer, while they were on the way to check the contractor was complying with state safety code, when I would ID myself, Sgt Crowley would threaten me with false arrest. "I'm gonna call for a patty wagon to come and take you away."
This behavior, interferring with me while I am exercizing my civil rights, and the threat of the use of force, unlawfully, is a Colour of Law Violation.
We explained to Police Commissioner Robert Haas, that if Sgt Crowley was not disiplined, we feared he would continue to threaten others, because we did not believe his threats to me were personal. (there are witnesses)
Based on my observation, there are only a few officers in Cambridge who are problems. Sgt James Crowley is one of them, he is an unstable, cruel, sociopath.
I have always been supportive of the police, and support fully, community policing, and the bike police. However, the idea that there are no rotten apples, and that the police force should cover up for the bad actors, is not only not a good model of policing, but hurts most the reputation of the department, which then will lose the trust and support of the people.
Also, do not believe the outrageous literally fabulous story that is the police report. The arresting officer, not following rules, brushing aside civil rights laws, writes a self serving prolie report filled with lies.Please, use your common sense!
The City of Cambridge has ongoing problems complying with Federal Civil Rights Laws, as well as State Law, and the Mass state constitution, they do NOT need a rogue police officer holding them back as they seek to improve their image and move forward.
After 20 years on the force, Sgt Crowley should know that
1. When a neighbor calls that they see someone entering or B&E a neighbors house, that is NOT probabal cause to go into the house. We have had the Police Commissioner testimony In City Council on this issue.
2. When you approach a house, based on such a report, and without any evidence of a breakin, and without the occupant's call to the police, the police officer should knock, and show his ID. Clearly, Sgt Crowley didn't do that. Why not?
3. If you can reverse the colour issue for a moment, a Black Man, dressed in a Police Uniform, but alone, without another officer, knocks on the door of a white man, and demands the white man open the door, and show him ID, but refuses to ID himself. What would you do if you were the white man? Is there anyone that believes colour is not a part of this? because we do not need more denial, we need to move beyond denial.
You would't ask the man to show his Police ID? With name and badge #? Prof Gates did what any of us would do, and Sgt Crowley took issue with it, refusing to ID himself, and who knows what else Sgt Crowley said. he obviously FAILED to take control of the situation, instead he inflamed the issues. He became personally "insulted" and retaliated against an innocent man, who had committed no crime whatsoever.
4. In my opinion, the only mistake Prof Gates made was opening the door so the police officer could get in, before the Sgt IDed himself. I believe that Gates should have called Harvard police immediately.
However, the issue here is that Sgt Crowley seems to believe that he can order around ordinary citizens and threaten them with arrest, as though we were all homeless. Prof Gates, myself, and my friends and neighbors do not believe we live in a police state. We do believe that we should have police who can conduct themselves in a professional way, that does not bring shame on our City, the Department and themselves.
I will be following this up, I will testify In City Council next Monday evening, and I will make a Youtube Video on this.
In this instance Prof Gates in not the bad guy, who played the race card, but an innocent mman who had committed no crime. He was abused by this individual officer, and the City of Cambridge needs to take action, not just use words, to hold this officer accountable..
And, Oh, BTW, the City of Cambridge does NOT have a functioning police review board, could that be part of the problem, with rogue police con fident that internal complaints will whitewash their "mistakes?"
This afternoon, at 4pm, the Cambridge Police were still refusing to ID the arresting police officer. I was told they will not ID him, until they finish their investigation into who was responsible for the leak of the police report. It seems that the Cambridge Police continue to take care of themselves, instead of serving the public.
The Cambridge police should immediately release the police report, be transparent, abd understand that they are governed by the people of Cambridge, not the people are goverend by the police.
take care, folks,
Kathy Podgers
Pearl St
Cambridge, MA 02139
kathypodgers@yahoo.com
http://fromtheport.blogspot.com
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