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Officer Behind Harvard Professor's Arrest in Long Beach Today
Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, the arresting officer in the controversial Gates case that drew quick and harsh criticism from President Obama, will thank a national police union today in Long Beach for defending him when the President said he acted "stupidly," according to the LA Times. Black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested for disorderly conduct when police responded to a break-in call. Gates was actually breaking in to his own house because his door was stuck. The incident drew national headlines and President Obama's remark was praised by the African-American community, but not by the policing one. The three of them sat down for beers to talk things over soon after. It is not known when Crowley will speak at the Fraternal Order of Police convention today. Around 10,000 are in attendance.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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