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Cases like that get dismissed all the time. I've seen plenty. I rarely see police reprimanded. Certainly not publicly. The absence of a reprimand tells me zero about the validity of the arrest. And, for what it is worth, I don't think there should be a reprimand. The officer made a judgment call. If the report was correct, he didn't just arrest the guy for no reason. I don't know that it calls for a reprimand when an officer doesn't stick to fine lines in the law. One thing you have to understand about disorderly conduct: It's shockingly broad in its terms. Which is one of the reasons there is a lot of case law limiting its application.

Whether Gates should have cooperated is open to debate. If you feel the Officer was in the right, that's fine. That's your opinion, and I think it a reasonable opinion. Obviously, we don't have the same sensibilities on issues of the police conduct and civic obligation. Which is fine. I agree with a lot of what you say. Based on the police report, Gates acted like a jackass. He could easily have avoided all the drama with a little common sense. I understand why the officer would be aggravated by Gates's behavior. I don't blame the officer for being peeved at Gates's antics. Truthfully, I think a lesser man might have busted Gates in the chops.

All that said: Based on my experience with the criminal justice system, I still don't see a valid basis for a disorderly conduct charge. I'm not trying to be cute here. I'm not engaging in hyperbole. If someone brought the facts of Gates's case to me, I'd expect the matter to be dismissed at, or prior to, arraignment. And I'd be hard pressed to advise anyone to accept any plea on those facts, not even for a slap on the wrist. Understand: I'm not saying Gates was right. I can't put it strongly enough that he appears to have been a douche bag in all of this. I am talking only about the validity of the now dismissed charge, given my understanding of the legal principles involved. Engaging in conduct that can be described as disorderly doesn't necessarily amount to the criminal offense of disorderly conduct. I honestly don't see it on the facts before me. No disrespect intended.

And just to be very clear, NO DISRESPECT TO FLK9. Cops have a really important and difficult job. I want them to be there for me when I need help and protection. Maybe we ask and expect too much of them, at times.