Hey, there! Log in / Register

Police lying

THE QUESTION I [Dick Lehr] have for Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis is this: Why does it take a federal judge to throw a judicial tantrum about a lying cop before the Boston Police Department investigates one of its own?

The judge, Mark Wolf, kicked off a legal brouhaha this spring by ruling that an arresting officer in a Boston gun case had testified falsely. Wolf is mulling sanctions against a federal prosecutor in the case who failed to turn over police records to defense attorneys revealing the cop’s credibility gap. link

So the officer lied, and the United States Attorney failed to share exculpatory evidence with the defense. If this happened to you, what kind of justice system would you think we had?

How common is it for police to falsify incident reports and testimony in court in order to make a better case then the facts alone would? It's happens often enough that the have a name for it, "creative writing" and "testilying."

It was only after Wolf’s ruling - attracting lots of media attention - that the Police Department initiated an Internal Affairs investigation of the officer.

So I ask Davis, over coffee this week, why did it take until a judge’s public tirade to investigate the officer?

Davis’s response is clear and emphatic. "It shouldn’t have," he says.

[...]

...he’s putting the finishing touches on a new policy he’ll call the "Bright Line Rule".

[...]

"If our own internal process determines that an officer has been untruthful, the punishment will be termination."

This begs the question, what has been the internal watchdog process and consequence in the past when Boston police officers embellish (falsify) an incident report or perjure him/herself on the witness stand in court?

Recently in Cambridge, Officer Crowley's incident report documents a conversation between Lucia Whalen and Crowley that he states occurred prior to when he knocked on Skip Gates front door. A conversation in which Whalen told Crowley about two black men with backpacks.

Lucia held a press conference to report that she said no such thing, and that the extent of their conversation was Officer Crowley telling her to "stay put" on the sidewalk.

Let's hope Commissioner Hass realizes the important of honesty in all manners and actions taken by the men and women we hire to enforce the law by getting to the bottom of this discrepancy and creating a culture of policing that values truth and honesty.

Who could disagree with wanting our police to be truthful and honest?

Neighborhoods: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

the real Dick Lehr of Globe Spotlight Team and BU Com School?

up
Voting closed 0

When Whalen called 911,she stated that she wasn't sure of the
race of each suspect;hwever one might have been hispanic.
Minutes later,when Crowley and the other officers arrived,upon
reflection,Whalen told Crowley that perhaps their were two black
mails with backpacks.There is not contradiction.Just time for reflection for
a person viewing what she thouight was a crime in progress.
Two or more people can see the same crime,but get details totally
different.This is a non story.Justa person with an anti-police biase.To finish this,Gates should appologize to Sgt Crowley and
the rest of the Cambridge pd.

up
Voting closed 0

Whalen told Crowley that perhaps their were two black mails with backpacks.

That is not true according to Lucia Whalen who held a press conference last Wednesday in order to make that point abundantly clear. From the story in the NYT...

"Ms. Whalen’s statements contradict the police report filed by Sgt. James Crowley, who said she told him outside Mr. Gates’s home that she had seen “what appeared to be two black males with backpacks” on the porch of the yellow single-family house.

Ms. Whalen said that the only words she exchanged with Sergeant Crowley in person were, “I was the 911 caller.” She said that he responded, “Stay right there.”

link

You should probably read up before you make incorrect assertions.

up
Voting closed 0

There were some bigots who actually thought if she had
reported 2 possibly 2 blacks, on the 911 call;implying it
would of made her a racist.What is that all about!?
I believe she (reasonably) on reflection told Sgt Crowley that
the 2 suspects were possibly black;but apparently in Cambridge
siting the race of a suspect is not pc,she publicly denied that,to safe herself grief.
Gates still owes Sgt Crowley and the Cambridge police dept an appology.

up
Voting closed 0

"I believe she (reasonably) on reflection told Sgt Crowley that
the 2 suspects were possibly black"

Ms. Whalen said that the only words she exchanged with Sergeant Crowley in person were, “I was the 911 caller.” She said that he responded, “Stay right there.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/us/30gates.html?...

up
Voting closed 0

IMAGE(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/nfsagan/Crowley-Gates2.jpg)

up
Voting closed 0

.

up
Voting closed 0

Ms. Whalen said that the only words she exchanged with Sergeant Crowley in person were, “I was the 911 caller.” She said that he responded, “Stay right there.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/us/30gates.html?...

up
Voting closed 0

On the broader issues underscoring the incident, it's worth noting, as others have, that Gates' arrest in Cambridge was not an example of racial profiling.

What Wednesday's
developments really indicate is that there's something interestingly problematic with the police report that the arresting officer filed. You know, the report that stated that he had spoken with the witness who called 911, and that she had told him she saw "two Black men with backpacks" barging into Gates' house? According to the witness, not only did she never provide racial descriptors to the 911 operator, but she also didn't have any such conversation with Sgt. Crowley.

This leaves three possibilities, if we assume the witness is telling the truth (as she was regarding what she said in the 911 call):

1) Sgt. Crowley's police report cut some corners. That is, rather than explain how a witness called 911, then dispatch called him, and that through a variety of sources and observations he learned that the two men in question were Black, perhaps Crowley thought he'd streamline matters and take the short-cut of writing that he learned from the witness that there were two Black men at the scene.

2) Sgt. Crowley mistakenly believed that he learned this information from the witness as he arrived upon the scene, thus the inaccuracy in his report.

3) Sgt. Crowley intentionally added inaccuracies to his report. Why would he do this? I suppose we could speculate that it was a post-hoc effort to make it seem as if the situation he had encountered was more dangerous and threatening than it turned out to be, thus justifying an arrest. And maybe "Black men with backpacks" seemed particularly nefarious? But, of course, there's no way to prove or disprove such an allegation, so debating it is simply an exercise in speculation.
Related Articles

What we do know is that–surprise, surprise–Crowley's police report can't be treated as some sort of first-person gospel that sets the record straight in the matter. At the very least, we now know it contains inaccuracies, and at worst, it could take intentional liberties with the truth.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-small-...

up
Voting closed 0

As has been said before, offensive speech is the only kind of speech that needs protection; the right of free speech means the right to say something that may very well offend someone.

What is remarkable in this case is that so little attention has been focused on that issue; Professor Gates said some things that offended Sergeant Crowley, and was arrested for a crime and taken to jail as a result of that and that only. Of course it's arguable that this was more likely to happen because Professor Gates was black; but what really is more important than that fact is that it's permitted to happen at all. Personally, I wouldn't feel any the less strongly about this if it had been Crowley's assistant who had made the arrest; and his assistant was black and fully approved of the arrest, thus clearly would have done it himself, had he been in command.

To talk back to the police is not a crime, except in a police state; and it's hard to think of a political point more important to get right than that one.
link

up
Voting closed 0

Thats what she said that she said or didn't say. Go to a real trial and find out how many times a witness can change what they said or thought they said.

Why do you think so many murder cases go unsolved in Boston? A witness will tell a grand jury one thing, and then the defense attorney something else in trial.

We know what she said on the 911 tape, but we don't know what she said on the scene. She isn't trained to memorize what she said or didn't say, the cops are.

up
Voting closed 0

why must it go back to Gates, all the time?

is there even room for debate about the terrible behavior of the boston cops?
they beat one of their own and then cover it up?
the above?
the incredible LACK of any arrests or convictions for the murders of the past few years?

gates is over. focus on the fact that the corruption in the police and fire departments in boston is absurd and nobody seems willing/able to handle it or change it.

up
Voting closed 0

Wait, seriously? The conviction rate for Boston homicides is like 85% this year.

Every homicide in the City of Boston is announced at http://www.bpdnews.com/. Every arrest is announced there, at http://www.mass.gov/da/suffolk/press_releases.html, or both. Every conviction, every acquittal, and every hung jury in a homicide case is announced, as well.

Just because it doesn't make the papers doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

up
Voting closed 0

Andy Rooney said on "60 Minutes" a few weeks back:

I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers.

The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America.
Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens... Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason; that is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts!
ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE?

I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

I have the right "NOT" to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

I think the police should have every right to shoot your sorry ass if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word "freeze" or "stop" in English, see the above lines.

I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations.

I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor.

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television.
That doesn't stop you from watching them.

I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say "NO!"

I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

I am sick of "Political Correctness." I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be "African-Americans"? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else.

And if you don't like my point of view, tough...

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! AMEN!

I was asked to send this on if I agree or delete if I don't. It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having "In God We Trust" on our money and having "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to Shut Up, lay down and BE QUIET!!!
Labels: Andy Rooney CBS couldn't shut him up

up
Voting closed 0

The "Andy Rooney" rant is a hoax. Did you know that?

up
Voting closed 0

your a hoax.. that couldn't be said any better

up
Voting closed 0

I could say it better, but much of it reflects ignorance, so I won't say it better.

up
Voting closed 0

andy rooney is a bigot and you're an asshole. how's that for free speech?

up
Voting closed 0

Have I been watching an edited tape?

I watched her live and never heard anything about a police report and the clip (4:55) I've seen makes no such statement?

up
Voting closed 0

Whalen doesn't comment on the police report but she clearly and unambiguously contradicts it. "I'm the 911 caller" "stay there" is the extent of the conversation according to her. Gates says she said "two black men with backpacks." She claims she didn't say that. Officer Crowley may have been testilying. Why? I don't know. But Whalen went out of her way to set the record straight.

up
Voting closed 0

Don't you think everyone else noticed it already, and either determined an innocuous explanation, are still investigating, or decided that it's a distraction from more important/constructive things that are happening right now as a result of the incident?

Just yesterday, didn't you (laughably) accuse adamg of putting profits over ethics in journalism, when you have thousands of better opportunities to make your point and push actual reform, and when adamg is probably one of the *last* people who should be singled out for criticism? A similar situation applies with CPD.

up
Voting closed 0

Sorry neilv I have no idea what everyone else notices. Thanks for commenting. Come again.

up
Voting closed 0