Mayor and Police Officer Argue at Council Meeting

Tempers flared last night at a City Council meeting when a representative of the police union criticized Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 for making comments earlier this summer about the arrest of a Cambridge youth.

Police Patrol Officers' Association president Detective Frank Pasquarello asked Reeves why he made statements in the June 11 issue of the Cambridge Chronicle regarding the arrest of North Cambridge resident Karim Rashad. Rashad, 19, claimed a police officer assaulted and arrested him at a party because he is Black.

"We feel no city official should give any statement regarding a case that is pending," Pasquarello told the council. He accused the mayor of tak- ing sides in the case before "all facts [are]known."

Reeves, who knows Rashad personally, had toldthe Chronicle that he did not doubt Rashad'sstory. "I believe he didn't imaging [the policeofficer's actions]. It's not the result of anover-active imagination," he told the newspaper.

Last night, Reeves stood by his statement.

He also commented on the irregularity of thepolice union president's actions.

"I believe it is unprecedented [for] any policeofficer to come before the council to sayanything," Reeves said. "I would've done moreresearch [before coming to the council]."

The exchange elicited insinuations from themayor and accusations from community members ofracism on the part of Cambridge police officers.Pasquarello denied that racism motivated hisdecision to confront the mayor.

"We're not going to turn this into a racistproblem," he said. Pasquarello defended hisdecision to confront the mayor at the councilmeeting, saying Reeves' office had "fluffed" himoff when he had attempted to speak to Reevesearlier.

Councillors reprimanded Pasquarello forbringing the complaint to the meeting and remindedReeves that he did not have to respond.

"You are not on the witness stand," CouncillorFrancis H. Duehay '55 told Reeves.

Voices were raised when Reeves repeatedaccusations of racism he said he had heard fromhis staff members. Reeves said representative ofthe police union had questioned his objectivity.

"[Union members] asked questions--of whether Ionly care about Black people," Reeves said.

Pasquarello responded immediately, thinkingthat Reeves had accused him of racism. "I expectan apology, Mayor Reeves," he said.

Reeves responded testily, "I think there is ahearing problem," and reiterated his irritationthat the union had "not come to [him] man to man"with its complaint.

After Pasquarello left, accompanied by about adozen uniformed police officers, community memberscame forward to support the Mayor's actions and toexpress their concerns about police officers'attitude toward young Black men.

"There is a great deal ofdisrespect...disrespect for the average Blackyoungster," said Cambridge resident MarshallMilner. "All [police officers] see is a Blackhip-hop dude.

Reeves, who knows Rashad personally, had toldthe Chronicle that he did not doubt Rashad'sstory. "I believe he didn't imaging [the policeofficer's actions]. It's not the result of anover-active imagination," he told the newspaper.

Last night, Reeves stood by his statement.

He also commented on the irregularity of thepolice union president's actions.

"I believe it is unprecedented [for] any policeofficer to come before the council to sayanything," Reeves said. "I would've done moreresearch [before coming to the council]."

The exchange elicited insinuations from themayor and accusations from community members ofracism on the part of Cambridge police officers.Pasquarello denied that racism motivated hisdecision to confront the mayor.

"We're not going to turn this into a racistproblem," he said. Pasquarello defended hisdecision to confront the mayor at the councilmeeting, saying Reeves' office had "fluffed" himoff when he had attempted to speak to Reevesearlier.

Councillors reprimanded Pasquarello forbringing the complaint to the meeting and remindedReeves that he did not have to respond.

"You are not on the witness stand," CouncillorFrancis H. Duehay '55 told Reeves.

Voices were raised when Reeves repeatedaccusations of racism he said he had heard fromhis staff members. Reeves said representative ofthe police union had questioned his objectivity.

"[Union members] asked questions--of whether Ionly care about Black people," Reeves said.

Pasquarello responded immediately, thinkingthat Reeves had accused him of racism. "I expectan apology, Mayor Reeves," he said.

Reeves responded testily, "I think there is ahearing problem," and reiterated his irritationthat the union had "not come to [him] man to man"with its complaint.

After Pasquarello left, accompanied by about adozen uniformed police officers, community memberscame forward to support the Mayor's actions and toexpress their concerns about police officers'attitude toward young Black men.

"There is a great deal ofdisrespect...disrespect for the average Blackyoungster," said Cambridge resident MarshallMilner. "All [police officers] see is a Blackhip-hop dude.