Officer Suspended for Calling Henry Louis Gates a 'Jungle Monkey'
BY Corky Siemaszko
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
The Boston cop suspended for calling Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates a "banana-eating jungle monkey" in a mass e-mail was turned in by fellow cops.
The revelation that Officer Justin Barrett's brothers in blue were also revolted by his hateful words came as the police commissioner tried to repair the reputation of Beantown's police department.
"This type of venomous rhetoric is severely damaging," Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis declared Thursday. "We will not allow the unacceptable actions of one member to define who we are."
Davis said he has apologized to Gates on behalf of the department and they are now checking whether Barrett had any run-ins with blacks while on the job.
Barrett is also not getting any love from the local police union, which has denounced his remarks as "offensive and hurtful."
"He's gone," Boston Mayor Tom Menino said of Barrett, who has already been suspended. "G-o-n-e. I don't care, it's like cancer. You don't keep those cancers around."
Barrett, 36, a cop for two years, has also been suspended by the National Guard, where he holds the rank of captain. Earlier, Barrett insisted he was not a racist and "did not mean to offend anyone."
"The words were being used to characterize behavior, not describe anyone," Barrett told WCVB-TV.
Barrett conceded it was a "poor choice of words."
"I didn't mean it in a racist way," he added. "I treat everyone with dignity and respect."
Barrett said he was "just venting" about the July 16 arrest of Gates by a white Cambridge cop that became a national discussion about race when President Obama said the officers acted "stupidly."
"People are making it about race," said Barrett, who vowed to fight any attempt to fire him. "It is not about race."
But it may be about whether Barrett has any sense.
Barrett got into hot water after he fired off the note to his buddies on the force, in the Guard—and, inexplicably, The Boston Globe.
In the email, Barrett called the Globe story "jungle monkey gibberish" and wrote that Gates' "first priority should be to get off the phone and comply with police."
"For if I was the officer he verbally assaulted like a ... jungle monkey, I would have sprayed him in the face with OC deserving of his belligerent non-compliance," Barrett wrote.
OC is pepper spray.
Barrett went on to question Gates' credentials, called him a "God damned fool," and twice challenged the paper to "ax" him what he thinks.
"I am not a racist, but I am prejudice [sic] towards people who are stupid and pretend to stand up and preach for something they claim is freedom," Barrett wrote.
Reader Comments
Zero tolerence for racist police....period
I am disgusted; but not suprised at the comments in regard to this issue while reading over this section; as well as the section on "racial tensions stirred by Henry Louis Gates arrest could grow."
The last time that I checked, it is grounds for termination; or a very serious reprimand, at the very least, to exercise your Constitutional right to freedom of speech, while in and authoritative position, such as a police officer, to "state an opinion" and call a black man a"jungle monkey." If a police officer feels that way, he CLEARLY is a racist. I am a white woman and I have many black friends; and three half-black children; and have NEVER called anyone a "jungle monkey", a "coon", or the worst one of all, a "NI****". I am not a racist. I am sickened by the following comments that have been posted on here.
"No we dominate because of character and education!" courtesy of stanley stewart feingold of NY
Really, Stan? I guess it is the "character" that I have a problem with. Character menas that you have a high level of integrity and have respect for all people. Character is the centerpiece of the heart; and is displayed in a person who is NOT a racist by any shape, size, or form.
Yet another ignorant comment,
"He's not a monkey, but a beneficiary of Affirmative African-American Action.
The vast majority of AAAA's would never have received their jobs if it wasn't for the miracle of Affirmative African-American Action." courtesy of Larry from MO
Really, Larry? So, what you are REALLY saying is that the majority of black people did not get their jobs on their own merit; they got them because of affirmative action, right? What a laugh! I guess Micheal Jordon, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Deon Sanders, Micheal Jackson (God rest his soul), Sean Combs, & Angela Bassett (just to name a few)...all were "given" their careers as a "handout" of affirmative action?
And, last, but certainly not least, is the most illiterate, laughable comment of all.
"The police, just like anyone else, should be permitted to express their opinions, especially anonymously regarding a national issue.
The person should be forgiven is Mr. Justin Barrett, who actually did not violate any of the rights of Prof. Gates. The person more worthy of drinking beer at the White House with the President and Prof. Gates is Police Officer Justin Barrett." courtesy of ludvikus of NY
Grab your hoods and crosses and lynch ropes; it's time to "get get 'dem boys rounded up!"
Pathetic, truly frightning. There are still VERY RACIST white people alive and breathing all over this great country. Comments of the latter prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Here's my solution:
The police officer should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY. He clearly does not have good character and sound judgement to work in a large, diverse city such as Boston; or anywhere for that matter. Police officers have to maintain a neutral stance AT ALL TIMES. Racism IS NOT AN OPTION!
It looks like we've got a KKK rally right here!!!
I am disgusted; but not suprised at the comments in regard to this issue while reading over this section; as well as the section on "racial tensions stirred by Henry Louis Gates arrest could grow."
The last time that I checked, it is grounds for termination; or a very serious reprimand, at the very least, to exercise your Constitutional right to freedom of speech, while in and authoritative position, such as a police officer, to "state an opinion" and call a black man a"jungle monkey." If a police officer feels that way, he CLEARLY is a racist. I am a white woman and I have many black friends; and three half-black children; and have NEVER called anyone a "jungle monkey", a "coon", or the worst one of all, a "NI****". I am not a racist. I am sickened by the following comments that have been posted on here.
"No we dominate because of character and education!" courtesy of stanley stewart feingold of NY
Really, Stan? I guess it is the "character" that I have a problem with. Character menas that you have a high level of integrity and have respect for all people. Character is the centerpiece of the heart; and is displayed in a person who is NOT a racist by any shape, size, or form.
Yet another ignorant comment,
"He's not a monkey, but a beneficiary of Affirmative African-American Action.
The vast majority of AAAA's would never have received their jobs if it wasn't for the miracle of Affirmative African-American Action." courtesy of Larry from MO
Really, Larry? So, what you are REALLY saying is that the majority of black people did not get their jobs on their own merit; they got them because of affirmative action, right? What a laugh! I guess Micheal Jordon, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Deon Sanders, Micheal Jackson (God rest his soul), Sean Combs, & Angela Bassett (just to name a few)...all were "given" their careers as a "handout" of affirmative action?
And, last, but certainly not least, is the most illiterate, laughable comment of all.
"The police, just like anyone else, should be permitted to express their opinions, especially anonymously regarding a national issue.
The person should be forgiven is Mr. Justin Barrett, who actually did not violate any of the rights of Prof. Gates. The person more worthy of drinking beer at the White House with the President and Prof. Gates is Police Officer Justin Barrett." courtesy of ludvikus of NY
Grab your hoods and crosses and lynch ropes; it's time to "get get 'dem boys rounded up!"
Pathetic, truly frightning. There are still VERY RACIST white people alive and breathing all over this great country. Comments of the latter prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Here's my solution:
The police officer should be FIRED IMMEDIATELY. He clearly does not have good character and sound judgement to work in a large, diverse city such as Boston; or anywhere for that matter. Police officers have to maintain a neutral stance AT ALL TIMES. Racism IS NOT AN OPTION!
"I'm not a racist" - BostonPolice acting stupidly
The Boston Police stupidly revealed the anonymous ranting person responding to a Boston Globe by reporter Abraham article which favored Prof. Gates. Recommending that the proper title of Abraham's article include the slur "Jungle monkey" because the report was allegedly, inter alia, written out of ignorance of proper police procedure nothing less than violation of a person's Constitutional rights.
In the rant, the author of the rent explicitly sates that "he's not a racist."
The anonymous person, whose identity was revealed to the public by the Boston police recklessly, has even thereafter made an apology for his poor choice of words, but he is not permitted the opportunity to re-calibrate his language. In fact, he's been placed on administrative leave.
The police, just like anyone else, should be permitted to express their opinions, especially anonymously regarding a national issue.
The person should be forgiven is Mr. Justin Barrett, who actually did not violate any of the rights of Prof. Gates. The person more worthy of drinking beer at the White House with the President and Prof. Gates is Police Officer Justin Barrett.
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