[Cheburashka]

What good does showing the police his Harvard ID. I doubt it has his home address on the ID. He was just trying to show the police how important he is.

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It's Cambridge, Harvard is an important employer in the community. The officer called in and requested that Harvard security send someone to the scene, since the house was rented/owned by Harvard, and who would presumably be able to vouch for Professor Gates.

[livius]

Yes, the Harvard police showed up and verified his address.