What exactly is disorderly conduct? Being 'upset' is disorderly? No. Absolutely not.
Professor Gates is not a person that doesn't have rights when it comes to being 'cornered' in his home. An officer's demeanor is ALWAYS to deescalate any emotional response.
"Stepping outside" alone as Officer Crowley stated was a benign reques?. It was not benign. Stepping outside was to protect Officer Crowley from being victimized by his own actions. Stepping outside was a continuance of the arrest process. Stepping outside was an assertion of power and authority over an innocent man.
What should have occurred was an apology to Professor Gates either in his house (Perferably) or outside. An apology that simply states, "I was responding with my partner to a potential break-in to you're home. It was reasonable to believe that a neighbor would know you and only seek to protect your home with a phone call to dispatch officers to intervene. Again, I apologize for this confusion. It was to protect your home and property. I would anticipate this should not deter anyone from calling if they believe there is a crime being committed."
With that it is more than reasonable to visit the neighbor to tell her about the mix up and reassure her that her neighbor and the neighborhood was safe. Imagine having her watch 'the action' from her point of view and feeling as though Professor Gates was actually a criminal. There is a lot that could have occurred differently.
I am grateful there was no escalation beyond what occurred. A mistake is a mistake and there is no reason why police officers have to propagate a greater mistake made by a neighbor. When there obviously was a huge mistake the reasonable thing to do is apologize and carry through with the neighbor realizing the Professor had reason to be upset from all angles.
Sensitivity 'R' Us
What has come of the White Woman Caller? Professor Gates specifically stated, "...a white woman caller..." One has to realize there is an instigator that added to Professor Gates state of mind. She doesn't know her neighbors? I see.
