Mass. officer whose arrest of Harvard professor fueled race debate is asked to lead RI parade

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Gates case officer invited to lead RI parade

NEWPORT, R.I. — The Massachusetts police sergeant whose arrest of a Harvard professor created a national debate over racial profiling has been invited to lead a Rhode Island parade.

Sgt. James Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department will act as grand marshal of the 27th Aquidneck Island National Police Parade on Sunday.

Crowley, who is white, made headlines in July when he arrested Henry Louis Gates, who is black, at Gates’ Cambridge home after police responded to a 911 call about a possible burglary. President Barack Obama, who initially said the Cambridge police had “acted stupidly” later invited both Gates and Crowley to the White House for a beer.

Newport Police Detective Corey Huck tells The Newport Daily News that Crowley was simply doing his job and “stayed professional” during the arrest.