The Police Commissioner Town Meeting in S. Phila

The caller stated that the meeting would begin at 7 pm. We arrived at 6:45 and the event was in full swing. The auditorium was 50 % filled with community people and a strong police presence. The other outstanding sight was the line to speak on the microphone held about 60 people and the line kept getting longer.
The police commish could not have felt insecure tonight because the police presence was over whelming. It seems as if the rank and file police officers came to hear the new leader and view his handling of a semi hostile crowd.
The front row center was filled with deputy commissioners, inspectors, captains and the like. The plain clothes officers we standing in the rear. The main stream press was heavily represented. Each speaker introduced themselves and stated what they thought was good or bad about the city from their points of view.
Twice the question of police accountability was raised. The issue of police sensitivity and then the big one came out. What about the police shootings, uh murders this past weekend. Former mayor W. Wilson Goode‘s nephew was shot and killed in Germantown. The mother, also named Goode called it a cold blooded murder. The commissioner handled that one and many others while taking notes and instructing officers to take note of locations and issues that were raised.
At about 7:45 pm, down the center aisle, the mayor and two body guards and a female aide came in briskly. The police commissioner introduced the mayor with here is my boss, Michael Nutter. The crowd jumped to its feet with a standing ovation. There were a few boo’s and jeers as well. He stated that he stopped by to support his commissioner and the police administration and stated that a report was due January 30, 2008.
It seems like a honey moon on all fronts with the new administration, city council and the police department with the community. My question is how long will the honeymoon last?
I get the feeling that the rank and file is not happy with this selection and the time will tell.

Comments

The New Man

Submitted by Bob Shipman (not verified) on Mon, 01/14/2008 - 8:47pm

He is in for the fight of his life. I have asked a number of community activist what do they think about him? The word always came back, don't know yet. He has to deal with these two shootings before we know.

I feel that the previous commissioner Johnson will be a hard act to follow, as per the involvement with the community.

Charles H. Ramsey

Submitted by rmship (not verified) on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 1:30pm

Charles H. Ramsey was the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) from 1998-2006. On January 7, 2008, he became commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Ramsey's (frightening) background

Submitted by Hans (not verified) on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 8:29am

Some interesting finds about the history of Philly's new police Commissioner, Charles H. Ramsey. Perhaps
Mayor Nutter didn't know about this?

DC Surveilance cameras etc.
http://www.notbored.org/cbs.html

DC cops outnumber demonstrators at IMF protest:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/sep2002/prot-s28.shtml

Human Rights Watch on Ramsey:

http://www.hrw.org/press/2000/04/ramsey425.htm

"Prostitution Free Zones". Will that include our Top Hotels, and Convention Center?

http://www.washblade.com/2006/3-31/news/localnews/ramsey.cfm

Ramsey admits to "flaws" in arresting peaceful demonstrators. City populace, not Ramsey, et al, pays.

http://www.dcwatch.com/police/050124.htm

Ramsey denies role in beating:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0240,ridgeway2,38853,6.html

Breaking Law to Keep Order: In These Times ".. a pattern of pre-emptive raids, restrictions, harassments, arrests and seizures, as well as
instances of police brutality. ..."

http://www.inthesetimes.com/issue/24/13/allen2413a.html

Demonstrators are "misinformed children":

http://www.georgetownvoice.com/2002-10-31/voices/i-fought-the-law