BOSTON -- Local law enforcement officials said Friday that they deeply resent the suggestion that race played a role in Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley's arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home near Harvard University last week, and asked President Barack Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick to apologize for comments union leaders called insulting.

Obama said Wednesday that Cambridge police officers "acted stupidly" and Patrick said the arrest was "every black man's nightmare."

"It is noteworthy that both qualified their statements by saying that they did not have all the facts. Usually when one hears those words, one would expect the next words will be, 'So I cannot comment.' Instead, both officials, both admitted friends of professor Gates, proceeded to insult the handling of this case by the Cambridge Police Department," said Sgt. Dennis O'Connor, the president of the Cambridge Superior Officers Association.

"Our view is that we think if Gov. Patrick and the president review all the facts, which they had not when they made the off-the-hip remarks that they would have commented differently. We are hopeful that upon reflecting that they will realize their statements were misguided and will take appropriate action in the form of an apology," said the department's attorney Alan MacDonald.

The Cambridge police maintain that arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley did what he had to do. Gates was arrested after he tried to budge open the front door of his Cambridge home. A passerby saw the Harvard scholar trying to gain access to the home and called police, thinking a burglary was in process.

"The facts of this case suggest that the president used the right adjective, but directed to the wrong party," O'Connor said.

Crowley was present at Friday's press conference, but did not make any statements and did not answer any questions. Gates has called Crowley a rogue cop and insisted that his arrest was the result of racial profiling.

"I think when the time is right, they should make an apology to us. I think the president should make an apology to all law enforcement personnel who took offense to this," said Steve Killian, president of the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association.

Obama made the controversial comments during a prime-time news conference Wednesday night.

The department may release Crowley's radio transmission, which the commissioner said is key to the case and support the sergeant's decision.

The commissioner is also putting together a panel of experts to review the case and possibly change standards and procedures.