I feel for anyone who gets killed out here on the streets of Phila., I even took cards to the 35th for the 2nd officer that was murdered, and I did not know him, but I would like to know why do you have different standards for when a civilian is murdered as opposed to a cop. Why isn't the same force use to find a cop killer the same force used to find the killer of civilians, such as kicking in people doors, using the majority of the police force, helicopters, random car searches, until the murdered is caught? To me thats using double standards. My second question is those 3 men that were assaulted by those police. How did only 3 loose there jobs, and it was very clear that there were more then 16 cops beating, kicking the crap out of those men, so how is that, also the three that loss there jobs were only on the force for a short period of time, I quite sure there were veterans out there as well.
Thank You for showing your concern for our fallen officers. Your question is one that is often raised after an officer is killed in the line of duty. Much of what you see about the media response is not controlled by the police department. While it would be futile for me to suggest that police department does not expend a great deal of resources to find cop killers, there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our response to the murders of our citizens. Having worked in the Homicide Unit twice, I can tell you that we work hard to solve every murder. Unfortunately, we do not get the level of cooperation that we need or would like in many cases. I can honestly tell you that we would like to solve every homicide case, irrespective of who the victim is. Because of the media coverage surrounding the deaths of police officers, it appears that our citizens are not treated in an equal manner. The fact is that the average citizen does not get to see the amount of work that goes into all our homicide investigations. As Commissioner Ramsey indicated in his press conference, there were other officers who were suspended for their actions. Moreover, there was a supervisor who was demoted for failing to take action. There were other officers whose actions were within the scope of department policy. While it is difficult for some people to understand, police officers are permitted to use force when making an arrest. However, we are only permitted to use that force which is necessary to make that arrests. That is why the Commissioner took action against these officers. Yes there were veterans at the scene. At least one of who was suspended for his actions.

DEAR MR> RAMSEY: WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF CAMERAS BETWEEN 75TH & 76TH AND OGONTZ AVE. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY COPS ON FOOT PATROL IN THIS AREA. ALSO I HAVE OTHER INFO BUT CAN'T POST ON LINE.
By the end of this year, we intend to roll out 250 cameras throughout all areas of the city. We receive recommendations from the district commanding officers as to the locations. Any suggestions for locations in the 14th district should be sent to Captain Winton Singletary. 215-686-3140 When I was the Inspector of Northwest Division, there was bike patrol along Ogontz Ave. I would recommend that you contact Captain Singletary or the Administrative Lieutenant with the other information. We greatly appreciate any information you might be able to provide.

How do you feel about using valuable Resources, time and money being used processing extremly Old bench warrants for minor violations such as Traffic or a small drug possession charge. Don't you think that money would be better spent having Police monitorinng the streets and actually protecting the public and arresting Violent offenders presently breaking the law.Shouldn't we classify the crimes, based on the severity of the violation and look into a more cost inhibitive "surrender" campaign to clear the warrants instead of cloggng up the prisons,courts and officers time showing up for a frivolous OLD charge when the offender is and probably will never be a threat to the public. There has to be a better way to.If you took that monay and actually tried to track down the offenders and make them aware that this still exists.You may have better results, than putting them in prison for 3 days while waiting to see a judge, only to be let go on Own recognizance, or dismissed or accepting probation.The overtime at the prisons alone is worth hiring data trackers and marketing campaign to inform the public.
Angel, Deputy Mayor Gillison is working with public safety officials and clergy to do a "Safe Surrender" program. Under this program, there will be a couple days set-aside where judges will be available to hear people with minor warrants who turn themselves into the authorities. Their case will be heard and decisions made immediately. This has been done in other cities with success in allowing people to clear their name and reducing the backlog of warrants.

I AM 1000% AGAINST LEGISLATING GUNS GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE CRIMINALS KILL PEOPLE WHY NOT START LEGISLATING THE CRIMINALS VERSUS THE GUN ATTORNEYS AND THE JUDGES SEEM MORE CONCERNED WITH THE CRIMINALS CIVIL RIGHTS VERSUS THE RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING HARD WORKING CITIZENS WHERE HAVE WE GONE SO WRONG WHERE WE GIVE MORE CREEDANCE TO LOW LIFES SUCH AS CRIMINALS THAN WE DO FOR THOSE OF US WHO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO DO THE RIGHT THING
Thank you for the email. I am not opposed to people owning guns I do however believe we should have reasonable guns laws in place that enhance responsible gun ownership. Laws such as requiring that a person report to the police when a gun is lost or stolen. A ban on military type assault weapons that really serve no useful civilian purpose. I also believe that gun safety is an issue. Two days ago a 2 year old child grabbed a handgun which was sitting on his mothers dresser. The gun discharged but fortunately the child only suffered powder burns on his neck from the discharge, it could have been a lot worse. People that have small children in their home should be required to take steps to keep any firearm out of their child's reach. I agree with you that the penalties for those that use firearms during the commission of a crime need to be strictly enforced

Are there any plans to speed up the process of cleaning up houses which L&I has designated as 'abandoned?' My 77 year-old mother & I are living next to such a house, which now has people in it which I believe are squatters. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this; thanks for all of your hard work.
Thank you for your question...there are a number of abandoned property in the City of Philadelphia. The department is working aggressivly with the Department of Licencse and Inspections. If your family is residing next to a property that is casuing problems in the neighborhood and occupants do not have a legal authoity. Please contact our Neighborhood Service Unit at 215-685-9500. We will coordinate our enforcement with LI

Why did the dept. allow a cop to be removed from the street to sit and protect a strip mall at rising sun and adams when they have security? Is this your idea of more cops on the streets commissioner?
I can understand your concern at what appears to be a waste of manpower. However, the Police Department has instituted a "Reimbursable Overtime Program" whereby private concerns, ie: businesses, companies, corporations, strip malls, etc. can hire police officers, at the overtime rate. The company would contact the commanding officer of the district. They sign a contract to pay for the officer and the patrol vehicle for the time period desired. This allows the business to have increased security, it increases police visibility, at no additional cost to the Police Department and does not remove anyone from a street assignment

I want to know when are you going to enforce the curfew law because the kids are still hanging out after midnight?
Ms. Eleanor, the department presently has several curfews centers located throughout the city. If you are observing juveniles out after curfew you should call 9-1-1. If the issue is not resolved then I advised you to contact your District Captain/Community Relations Officer to advise them of where the kids are hanging. The department takes curfews seriously and look forward to working with our community partners to address this issue. Thank you for your question.

With the recent announcement from the D.A. on a new alternative first time offender program for low level drug possession charges and the mayor announcing the release of some non violent offenders in an effort to reduce prison overcrowding, I would like to see more effort towards reducing these issues by decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs such as marijuana. This would likely save time and money, generate ticket monies for the city and reduce the jail population while keeping the officers out on the streets to deal with more important crimes. Is there a chance that we will see support on this front from the PPD community?
Thank You for your question. I can tell you that the police department does not support the decriminalization of illegal drugs. While we appreciate your position, it is just not an option that the department supports. Thanks

I realize that my question probably does not rise to the level of concern that some crimes may cause, however, the privately owned tow trucks that speed through the streets headed for potential sources of revenue, accidents, are themselves accidents waiting to happen. The other part of my question pertains to the tow truck drivers who remove cars and then shake down people for money to release their cars. This is not an imagined problem. I can actually cite three incidents where cars have been at least loaded up on trucks only to be released. These are things which are very disconcerting to me. Thank you.
Thank you for your concern regarding this issue. The police dept does in fact investigate tow trucks and their operators on a consistent basis. Most tow trucks are investigated by police when they are operating in an irratic manner or driving in such a way that they violate the motor vehicle code. Also, tow trucks and their operators have additional requirements which are governed by the state i.e., proper strobe lighting, L&I decals inc. etc. that they must comply with. I am concerned about your complaint and that is an area we will look to improve. Thank You again

Considering the recent rise in police brutality, do you think there should be stricter guidelines regarding "stop and frisk"? Although, the application of "stop and frisk" does not violate Fourth Amendment rights, How concerned are you that officers apply it in ways that do?
Certainly, a big part of our responsibility in managing the Department is to constantly monitoring the behavior and performance of our officers. It is also our responsibility to train our officers so that there is no question that they understand the manner in which they are to enforce the laws. We have recently released a training film concerning stop and frisk which has been shown to all of our officers and will continue to train and monitor their performance. I am confident that we will take all steps necessary to ensure that our officers do the right thing and do things right. The level of professionalism will not be compromised nor will we hesitant to professionally keep all law abiding citizens safe in our City. As to your second question, the Commissioner believes quite strongly that the Department should mirror the citizenry of our City. He also believes that individuals qualified to become law enforcement officers should apply for a position. Law enforcement throughout the Country has difficulty filling positions and we are no exception. As I'm sure you are aware, we recently had an advertising campaign surrounding the administration of our next police exam. We hope to get a large number of candidates eligible for hiring and, within that, would hope that we can hire as many minorities as become eligible for hiring.

I am wondering why no one has mentioned reforming our criminal justice system as part of our new plans to fight crime. I think there should be standard sentencing for crimes with guns, no plea barganing. I don't think stiffer guns laws will help. The criminals are not following the laws we already have. Maybe, if someone knew they would go to jail for years, not months, for having a gun illegally, it may make them think twice. What do you think about that?
Comment:

Mr. Commissioner, first let me say good luck in the coming years and expect you will be embraced by the Philadelphia community for a job well done. My question is, will we ever see the return of the beat police officer, the one that walks the neighborhood on foot and not by automobile. I personally think if we had more people contact the public would be more responsive. I await your review and response.

Good Luck, JHS
JHS, Thank you for your support. Beat officers are part of our policing strategy. There is fine line when deploying police resources. We need to make sure there are enough cars to quickly respond to calls-for-service and do tactical actions. We do believe that bike and foot patrols must be used and I hope to expand their use as we add more police officers to our ranks.

I'm scheduled to take my police exam on the 31'st. I have a felony conviction from 1994. Since then I havent had so much as a parking ticket. I always dreamed of becoming a police officer to help destroy a machine I was once a part of. Will this ruin my dream?
Unfortunately a felony conviction will disqualify you from joining our Department as a sworn member. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not allow anyone who has a felony conviction to become certified as a police officer. I wish you luck in the future and suggest you go on line to see if those standards apply in other jurisdictions. Depending on what the felony conviction was for you may be accepted. Good luck to you

how will new techniques added to police training, as a result of the recent beatings, differ from the new techniques added after the 2000 jones beating?
We are always looking at different training methods and equipment. Currently, we are evaluating increased use of the taser. This would, in certain circumstances, be an option as opposed to physical contact with a suspect. We also are training officers in techniques to de-escalate a situation in an attempt to avoid physical confrontations. Additionally, the Police Department has contracted with the Police Executive Research Forum to review our policies and procedures regarding the use of force. We are also reviewing the vehicle Persuit Policy.

I would like to know how is that we you guys don't put the same effort in solving murders of citizens in this city as you do police officers. Also I would like to see police officers get more involved in the communities they serve. Get out of the cars and embrace the community. get to know who they're serving.
Comment:

i moved out of the city a few years ago afraid that the crime would move into the northeast where i lived. i was actually afraid to walk my dog. as i see what is happening i feel a change is occurring, i am now considering moving back and would like to commend the mayor, commissioner and all the members of the police dept in working on making the city safe again. i would like to also say to the families of the brave officiers that were killed in the line of duty - my prayers are offered up for them and for protecting the police everyday. God bless you all in doing your best to change this city.
Comment:

Commissioner,
How is it that the places in the US with the most LEGAL guns have the least crime, while Philly doesn't have many LEGAL and more illegal and therefore more crime than anywhere else? Instead of punishing the lawful gunowners with a one gun a month, why not go after the people who obtain them illegally? Why not put criminals behind bars for life instead of giving them a slap on the wrist and sending them back onto the streets? Don't you think that that would curb more crime than trying to take the guns away from the people who legally obtained them and want to protect themselves from the criminals?
Comment:

why are your "changes" within the department focused on uniform changes, deputy commissioner promotions and outdoor roll calls?

The changes you mentioned are only a very few of what is happening in the department. Organizational and cultural changes help drive behavioral changes. Organizational changes like ROCs help ensure accountability and oversight. Putting the Narcotic Strike Force under the command of patrol Deputy Commissioners, ensures that their work is in line with the priorities of communities. In addition to organizational changes, we are making improvements in training and technology so that our officers are better prepared to do their job. Change requires multiple approaches on a variety of fronts. Keep watching and you will see the difference.

Dear Commissioners:

What do you think of the broken window theory? William J. Bratton and Giuliani applied this idea in NYC in the early 90's and reduced crime significantly. The general idea is that by reducing petty crimes and improving quality of life issues, overall (major and minor) crimes reduce. This theory has been applied in other cities (in New Mexico, in particular), we great success.

Have you considered this for Philadelphia?

Thanks
I believe in that theory. Its no surprise that the same people committing your quality of life crimes are also committing your more serious offenses. By attacking the so-called less violent issues crimes we come in contact with the repeat violent offenders. This allows the police to investigate them further regarding other crimes in the area of the arrest. Its not just about making alot of arrests, its about making arrests in the areas experiencing an increase in crime. Dont get me wrong, we take community concerns seriously. Please do not think we dont. The PPD does subscribe to the Broken Windows Theory as well as other crime fighting strategies consistent with the Best Practices of Law Enforcement. The quality of life issues such as drinking on the highway, loitering, curfew issues, etc, deserve and receive attention because we know the adverse impact it has on the community. The PPD is always exploring new and realistic ideas and any ideas you may have could be considered. Thank You for your question.

why do the policn not give out tickets for cars parking on the side walks in south phila in the 4th districtn us old folks hafto walk in the street and get hit by a car can you get on this a roll call thank you know you know quilaty of life liveing
Thank you so much for your question. I know how problematic it can be when vehicles park in an illegal and inconsiderate manner making walking down the streets very difficult. While I know that many officers attempt to allow some discretion because of the difficulty of parking in your area of the City. Parking on the sidewalk, however, is a hazardous condition and cannot be overlooked. I will ensure that the Commanders in the 4th District and those responsible for South Phila. will do a rollcall complaint and enforce this illegal parking.

Why was all the emphasis placed on the firearm that killed Sgt. Liczbinski rather than the long rap sheets of the criminals, one of whom served less than 10 years of a 30 year sentence and the shooter served half of an 18 year sentence? Why aren't these people with long histories of offenses kept in jail and never released? The gun is not a problem until the wrong person picks it up, and if they are in jail we all will be safer. Also, I wish the city would act as rapidly with these criminals as was done with the recent firing and discipline of the police officers in the Channel 29 news event.
Ray, We share your frustration when convicted felons are released early and prior to their trials. The police role is to identify and arrest offenders. We then must hand-off the cases to the prosecutors and courts. You might think about organizing concerned citizens to express their desires when important cases are brought to the court. This is done in other cities with positive results.

there is been alot of shootings from 2005 and children and police officers. Why is it that minor children shoots other children gets away murder and the adults own the gun and nothing happens to the adults? children killers should be charged as adult for that crime. What is going to be done about children
killing children? Anyone that kills they should be killed or sentenced to life in prison.
Mayor Nutter has introduced legislation that will go a long way towards bringing reasonable gun laws to the city of Philadelphia. Many juveniles that commit the crime of murder are charged as adults but they must be at least 15 years of age otherwise they are charged as a juvenile.

Why does your patrolman look the other way upon viewing drivers running traffic lights,stop signs and no tags nor a temp tag displayed?
I am from N.J.witness the above question on different trips to your state, and I personally feel the ones that disregard Motor Vehicle Laws are more than likely the problem childs in your city AND if your Officers would inforce the MV Laws they probably would catch alot of wanted and crime individuals with weapons etc.Just maybe that would help take the offender off the street.Ones committing crime seem to be Illegal ALL the way around.No Job, No Registered Vehicle,No Respect for the Law.
Hopefully, this question will bring many questions to officers why they see these individuals commit traffic offenses and Literally turn their head!

Actually we write thousands of citations every year for the violations you mentioned. I can understand why it may appear that officers overlook these violations. However, officers are tasked with looking at many things while on patrol. As such, it is possible that sometimes officers simply are scanning in another direction when you see these violations. Moreover, there are also occasions when officers are enroute to another call, and therefore cannot make the traffic stops you write about. But you are correct about traffic stops being an excellent crime fighting tool.

THERE ARE CURRENTLY "NO LOITERING" LAWS ON THE BOOKS WHY ARENT THEY BEING ENFORCED TO FORCE DRUG DEALERS AND USERS OFF THE CORNERS? BY USE OF THESE LAWS IT WOULD ALSO GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH THESE INDIVIDUALS THUS FINDING DRUGS GUNS AND ILLEGAL PROCEEDS
I would like to thank you for question concerning enforcing laws pertaining to loitering laws. PPD is enforcing many laws as it relates to individuals loitering on the highway and selling narcotics. Thousands of person(s) are arrested each year and charged with violation of the controlled substance act. If there is a particular corner where you are having a problem with loitering... please contact our narcotics field unit at 215-685-1018. I totally agree with your comments.

Since the recent video of police officers beating suspects has arrised, Are there going to be new standards or SOPs regarding hiring new recruits, training and reprogramming of older police officers on how to handle arresting possible suspects in crimes in Philadelphia? How are you going to help the commmunity to know that police officers on are to protect and serve?
We are currently reviewing the training curriculum at the Police Academy and the Advanced Training Unit for both new recruits and veteran officers. We have contracted with the Police Executive Research Forum to review our Use of Force Policies to see if we are utilizing the best practices. We will be increasing the training time for both new recruits and veteran officers. Topics will include everything from verbalization techniques to de-escalate situations to less than lethal weapons such as pepper spray or tasers. Area residents are encouraged to get to know the police officers who work in their area. Please feel free to contact the local district Captain to share your concerns. In the 14th district, the Captain is Winton Singletary 215-686-3140. In the 35th district the Captain is John McCloskey 215-686-3350

Commissioner
Many Philadelphians believe that the Officers who were filmed by the News helicopter used excessive force and we commend you for your swift review and disciplinary action. In the past, disciplinary action and/or dismissal of Police Officers have been overturned in arbitration and police officers have been reinstated. Is there any policy in place now that will prevent this from happening in this situation? Thank you

Thank you for your email. The collective bargaining agreement between the City and FOP stills allows for arbitration and the union has already made it clear that they plan to bring this matter before an arbiter. Two of the dismissed officers were still on probation and therefore have no appeal through the arbitration process.

Why aren't the policies of the NYPD implemented in Philadelphia?
The tactics like Compstat, 311, surges, deployment of officers to precincts with higher crime rates?
Also, the officers I have encountered seem to not care. We have seen officers sitting in their RMP eating a box of powdered donuts with the sugar falling on their shirt. Seemed rather unprofessional, and they seemed to not even care about the problem we tried to alert them to.
In New York, I have reported something to officers sitting in their RMP eating lunch and they abruptly stopped eating and drove off to investigate.
Also, 311 is brilliant for calling in problems that aren't 911 worthy. We were taught (in NYC) you call 911 for an emergency and the precinct (later 311) for non-emergencys. 311 in Philadelphia does not seem to exist and when I called the precinct they said to call 911 and said they can't communicate with officers in the field. That is just wrong and unacceptable!
The Philadelphia Police Department is using the strategies you identified. We have been doing CompStat since 1998. We are now holding weekly crime briefs with our nine most violent districts and districts showing spikes in crime in the previous week. All of the 104 police recruits that graduated in April 2007 were assigned to one of nine violent districts. Our highway patrol and narcotic strike force teams are deployed to troubled spots in the city. The Managing Director is working on a 311 system with the intent of having it in operation this year. We are doing a lot and lot still needs to be done. I hope you will become active in community activities working with the police in making the city safer.

I am very concern about the crime in my SW neigborhood. I am wondering what are the plans for summer in our communities. Will they hire more police to patrol the main drug corners around 55th Springfield area. thank you for all your hard work I appreciate each officer that puts their life on the line. I am praying for peace.
I want to first thank you for your kind words and support.  As part of the Police Commissioner's Crime Plan, each District was tasked with the responsibility of formulating a Spring/Summer Crime Plan to address the specific issues under their command.  Commanders as part of their plans will be  putting add'l Officers on the street.  As they move forward, it is important that citizens like yourself communicate with your District Commander the specific issues occurring in your area.  You have an excellent Commander in your area Capt Anthony Washington (12th District).  You can contact his office at 215-686-3120 to provide information related to the drug sales and other quality of life issues

Our area is covered by the 6th precinct. We are members of the PDAC. The insignia for PPD says "Honor,Integrity,Service" We want Commissioner Ramsey to know that from the Captain to the newest Police officer in the 6th they all exemplify those words. There is a proactive response to any areas of concern. Also the interaction between this precinct and the community is incredibly positive. While these officers do not have the largest area of coverage they have one of the most diverse and populated areas. There is close work with many community groups, town watch groups and other areas of city government. I can think of only one PDAC meeting where Captain Korn was not in attendance--and I joined in February of 2007. Also email communication is used with the town-watch groups and community groups whenever a major crime occurs or whenever there is a series of problems such as burglaries to communicate that the precicnt's awareness and response to whatever has occured. My understanding is Captain Korn is one of the only commanding officers to do such a thing. There is great appreciation from the community for this. I think it would be great if other precicnts did this as well.
In conculsion I simply wanted to take a moment to relay my thanks that my home and my business are in the 6th precinct.

Comment:

Dear Commissioners:

Traditionally, the summer time (and the good weather), comes with an unfortunate increase in petty crimes. What is planned for preventing these crimes for this summer -- especially important is for people who visit the city from the suburbs and are planning to move in.

Thanks
All district commanders have been tasked with placing more uniformed police presence on the street. Its about placing officers in the right place at the right time. Its also about community involvement and coming forward with information regarding issues in their neighborhoods. In the very near future you will see all the scheduled community meetings for the district Captains and Divisional Inspectors posted on the department website (www.PPDonline.org) This is a great opportunity for you to meet your district commanders and officers to develop an open dialogue with the officers assigned to your neighborhood. I dont agree with the term "Petty Crime". What may be considered petty to you may be considered something different to your neighbor. If I leave my car windows down and someone reaches in and takes my wallet which probably contains a few credit cards and maybe 3 dollars, I would consider that an major incident because it happened to me. I try to place myself in the shoes of the victim so I can empathize with them and take the necessary action to ensure it doesnt happen again. As you mentioned, Philly is a huge visitors attraction and I encourage you and your family to spend a few days here and visit our center city area and other attractions throughout the city. Thank You for the question and visit our city.

what is this new police training going to be and are they going to be shown the proper way of aressting people
We are currently reviewing the training curriculum for both new hires and veteran officers. We intend to increase training time for both. Additionally, we have contracted with the Police Executive Research Forum to review our Use of Force Policies and Procedures to ensure that we are using the best practices. Officers are trained in proper arrest techniques, however officers are also human and subject to making mistakes. But there is absolutely no justification for excessive use of force during an arrest. The force should be only the minimum needed to effect the arrest.

You guys are the best. How can hlep make are city safer?
Thank you for your support. You can help by joining a town watch and if one doesn't exist in your area create it. Participate in your children's school activities. Know what your children are doing and who their friends are. Protect your home and car with locks and safety mechanisms. Report suspicious activities. Reach out to the police commander of your police district and offer your help. Above all, stay safe.

First, a big THANK YOU to all the brave men and women of our police force. My family and I sincerely appreciate the great work they do and wish them continued success. Second, will you still encourage town watches in the Philadelphia area? I belong to one in the Fox Chase section of the city and it has been most effective in helping make our neighbor better for all.
Thank you so much for your kinds words. The Commissioner is a strong supporter of Town Watch and has expressed a strong desire to see the Town Watch groups not only maintained but increased. We believe that some of our best partners are neighborhood residents who care about their communities and are willing to work with the Police Dept. to keep their neighborhoods safe. Keep up the good work - you are indeed an asset to your neighborhood and the City and I applaud you.

The area of the city I live in is Nicetown the police dept. is the 39th District.
1. How come no one can do anything about the drugs in this part of the city? There are still working people in these neighbors who can't afford to move and I am one of them. Some of the police in the area know who they are and won't do anything about them.
They want you to help them but if they can't keep you safe how can you give them information?
2. When the police are not in a emergency in traffic why can't they wait like everyone else for the green light? When they get tried of waiting in traffic some of them put there lights on knowing the traffic is heavy and there is no place to move. A few times I had my grandchildren in the car and they ask these questions what are we suppose to tell them as adults. When the police are not doing the right things that we have to do?
I know you may not be able to answer me directly but it would be nice if more police were seen in this area. There are alot of children in this area who see so much they should not be seeing.
Thanks, all of you so very much for taking the time to be more involved with the people and trying to find out where the trouble spots are.
The police department is working very diligently to eradicate illicit narcotics in our community. We employ many methods in this fight, including highly visible uniform patrol, clandestine surveillance and undercover purchases of narcotics. However, these enforcement perspectives are greatly enhanced by community support. For the most part, police officers are generally aware of the purveyors of drugs on the street, and when possible, execute immediate arrests. On other occasions, officers will endeavor to scrutinize known "drug" locations and conduct investigations as warranted. This intervention is always followed-up by a referral to our Narcotics Field Unit for the initiation of a more thorough and intense investigation. If it is your belief that police officers are apathetic or unconcerned, you should immediately bring this circumstance to the attention of your police district's commanding officer. You can remain anonymous when giving this information. In reference to your inquiry regarding the driving demeanor of police officers, we are obligated to follow all laws and regulations relevant to the legal and safe operation of a motor vehicle. Once again, any actions that seemingly violate this perspective should be brought to the immediate attention of the district's commanding officer. Police officers should always obey the law!! Police Commissioner Ramsey is committed to increasing the uniform patrol component in Philadelphia. He has assigned an additional 200 police officers to this function and has tasked his subordinate staff to work to maintain a large uniform presence in our communities. The 39th District is commanded by Captain Stephen Glenn, who can be reached at 215-686-3390/91

I am a 25 year old black male. I currently attend Temple university Graduate school. I am stopped by police in this city all the time for no reason. When I ask what I did Police say I fit the description of a burglary, shooting etc. This happens all the time. Its degrading,embarrassing and unfair. what do I need to do in these situations. I cannot change that I am black and I live in a city of unruly citizens. I feel as a black man I fear police, I dont feel comfort and saftey by them. Since when is PROFILING ok?
Thank you for your email. Profiling is wrong. The police do not have the right to stop any person based solely on race. Stop and Frisk requires an officer have reasonable suspicion before making the stop. For example, if an officer sees a person lurking an an alley attempted to conceal their presence they may stop to question that individual. For their own protection they may pat the person down to ensure they are not carrying a weapon. This would be justified under stop and frisk. I will work hard to ensure that officers conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and do not engage in any form or profiling. Our goal is to make our City safe and secure but to do so without alienating the community we serve.

Has any though been given to merge the Transit and Housing Police into the city police? It seemed to have worked quite well in New York City and saved some money with less duplication and better deployment of resources.
There are a few reasons for the separation. In New York, they all go through the same hiring process with the exact same standards and get assigned to one of the three upon graduation. In Philadelphia, Transit, Housing and the PPD are separate agencies. The hiring standards are different. The Housing Authority is Federally Funded. The Transit Police cover areas outside the boundaries of the city. There have been many occasions when SEPTA officers leave to join the Phila PD and also where our PPD officers retire and then join the Housing Authority.

If a person has approached a detective with info on a case but now won't cooperate by giving that info. What can be done to try and get that person to give up the info?
Thank you for questions as it relates to an individual cooperating with a detective. This scenario that you have presented is always a challenge t o the law enforcement community. The cooperation between the police and the community is paramount is solving cases, without their help the case goes unsolved. A person can be compelled to provide information if subpoenaed to testify at a Grand Jury. The best approach is building rapport and trust between the police and the community. If you have any information that may assist in an investigation you can call the Citizen Crime Commission, this number is anonymous. 215-683-TIPS

The subway seems more dangerous then when I was living in New York back in the 80s. What are you doing to reduce subway crime?
Tim, SEPTA has its own police force and they have responsibility for the subway system. We work closely with SEPTA especially around stops where youth travel to and from school. We are also working together at subway stops along Broad Street.

Part of the crime problem in Phila is due to the clogged court system. After arrest by Phila police and incarceration, many inmates in Graterford are never brought to court in Phila and their cases are then dismissed. How can you address this?
You are right about the overburdened court system. Unfortunately, this an issue that all of us have to work on. I can tell you that Mayor Nutter has a group of city executives working very hard to improve this situation. I am not aware of the issue raised concerning inmates who are not brought down from Graterford. However, it is very possible that there are instances where are dismissed for that reason. If I am correct, The sherrifs department actually transports inmates to and from court. That being said, we have a lot of work to do to help our problems with overcrowding.

officer ramsey i don't want to sound lilke i am being rude or disrespectful but i would like to know why is it that when an police officer is murder you guys pull out everything to catch the criminal who did it? Now when an regular citizen is murder some cases go unsolved and there aren't any leads. Thats the only question i would like to know. thank you
Thank you so much for your question. The Commissioner has been asked this question in the past and there are several issues involved with this question. First, when a police officer is murdered, there is a tendency among citizens to provide information which frequently is not the case in many civilian murders. Secondly, and most importantly, the Homicide Unit never closes an unsolved homicide. All homicides are open until solved and regularly reviewed for new leads and information. We treat our homicide investigations quite seriously and will never give up until the job is solved.

There seem to have been many problems with the behaviour of officers. Is there a civilian complaint review board?
Thank you for sending this email. Officers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times. If you have a complaint you may register it at any police station or with the Police Advisory Commission PAC) Mr. Bill Johnson heads the unit. The number for PAC is 2156863991

Good day, I would like to know approximately how long a person should wait for a response from the Police Department after submitting a telephone complaint. I would also like to compliment the police department for the presence of the Police officers on bikes. They may help in our crime spree in North Philadelphia.
Ms. Bey, the time an Officer responds to a particular call depends on the nature of the assignment. For example, a call for a serious crime such as a shooting victim would take precedents over a call for disorderly crowd or illegal parking. However, we are tasked with the responsibility of responding to all calls that are received in the 9-1-1 system. As part of the new 3-1-1 system that will be implementing in the near future, a customer service component will be added to our response times. You will receive a callback if we fail to respond to your call in a timely manner. Add'l each of the District/ Units open to the public, will have signs posted in the entrances providing information on the Commanding Officer and Supervisor on duty. Should someone enter the district and not receive proper service, they will have a number to contact the Commanding Officer to lodge their complaint. Thank you for your question.

I believe the new commish is doing a great job! But let's take care of the "small" drugs problems before they get out of hand! I live on a block where about 4 houses are involved with drugs...I know for a fact 1 house gets oxy's and a girl from the house goes there to get them for buyers who show up at her door! This has been going on for months....and getting worse. I've placed "roll call" complaints and contacted NETS. What else can be done?
Sue, Thank you for the question. I would suggest contacting the Commanding Officer of the Narcotics Field Unit. Captain Debbie Frazier can be reached at 215-685-1018. There is also a drug hot-line @ 215-686-Drugs. You can report illegal firearms at our gun hot line @ 215-683-GUNS. Don't forget to mention that you were chatting on this program. Thanks!

Commissioner Ramsey, Welcome to Philadelphia and so far job well done. I have one quick question regarding summary citations. Currently in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, officers need to detain and transport to their police station citizens that are being charged with summary citations. As you know this takes on duty officers off the street for close to 2 hours as they do the paperwork. And as in most cases the offenders are ROR'ed. I know you have suggested changing this law, to be like other large cities, and have to have the officers the ability to issue summary citations onsite. How are you making out with this because as is quite obvious this would be beneficial to your plan for more officers on the beat. Thank you.
Thank you for the email. You are right, the current way of handling summary citations takes officers off of the street unnecessarily. We are working to change the Home Rule Charter to allow a written citation to be issued on site in lieu of requiring the matter to be handled in the station.

Other cities have programs that get police and the youth together, such as the Police Explorers program. Could something like that be implemented in Philadelphia.
The Police Explorers is a great program and we do have it in Philadelphia. Currently, we have approximately 100 young people involved. We are also looking into developing a Police Cadet program whereby a young man or woman could work for the police department then when they are old enough transition into the Police Academy.

First I'd like to thank the police department for protecting our streets. I am personally relieved when I come home late at night and I see a police car patrolling my area.

My question about crime in the city relates to police corruption. It is no secret that corrupt police officers contribute to crime, what are you doing to combat corruption within your department?
Thank you for the email. Corruption in any form cannot and will not be tolerated in this Department. If you have any information regarding officers that may be involved in misconduct or corrupt actions please call Internal Affairs at 215 685 5000 or my office at 215 686 3357

Do you have any plans to give a pay raise to the police? And are you going to be bring back the mounted unit?
Speaking on behalf of Police Commissioner Ramsey, he would definitely endorse pay raises for police personnel. However, any salary increases must be obtained during contract negotiations with the city. If the city and our bargaining agency, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) cannot agree on a figure, the process proceeds into arbitration. We are in the process of re-establishing a Philadelphia Police Mounted Unit. It is hopeful that this unit will be up and functioning in the near future. Thank you for participating in this program!!!

The first thing we have to do is change the mentality of the police officers working "for our city" instead of hiring more. This is not going to change anything because being a former Philadelphia Police Officer I know that the officers think it is the simplest job in the work because you don't have to work. I observed a detective the was supposed to gather evidence from a home invasion across the street from an elementary school during opening hours, tell me he did nothing but make his personal phone calls instead of his job and jusitified this because of his mentality like most of the rest of the Philadelphia police, that "there ARE NO INNOCENT VICTIMS." It made me sick the things that I saw when I invested so much in this career. I think things could change if there was an education requirment, because a lot of officers are former high school dropouts with low self-esteem that hide behind a badge and don't have any intergity to do the job. Why do you think they do not get any respect?
Well I am equally disappointed to hear about officers like the one you describe. It is unfortunate that a small percentage of our officers forget the oath that they took upon taking this job. It is totally unacceptable for any employee of the Philadelphia Police Department to take such a cavalier attitude about serving our city. In addition, you know that most of our citizens are law -abiding. That attitude of "us against" them is exactly what causes a break down in our much needed police community relations. As you know, we now require a high school diploma or equivalent as a condition of employment. But you are right about education and the fact that a better education department is always optimal.

How do you plan too bridge the gap between officers and civilians so each can have a mutual respect for one another?
Thank you so much for your question. There too often is a gap between police and the citizens they're sworn to protect. When that occurs, it makes our job that much harder. The Commissioner has repeatedly expressed his vision to get our officer's out of their cars and onto the streets and neighborhoods. Only when the officers become more than a passing vehicle will relationships begin to develop. He has also made it clear that to the degree possible, officers should work in the same area of the District on a regular basis thus improving their ability to get to know the residents, storeowners, and those who frequent the area. Finally, he believes that foot patrols, bike patrols, and segway use along with vehicle coverage will help our officers get to know the residents they protect and they get to know us.

There is a young man that sells drugs across the street from my house. He is outside on his cell phone everyday all summer long. Cars pull up, money is exchanged. The neighbors know what he does but he has grown up in the neighborhood and no one says anything to him. What can I do to stop this?
The best thing to do is call 911 and provide a detailed description of the individuals who are breaking the law. The more details you provide the greater our chances of making an arrest and/or recovering the drugs or the proceeds of the drug trade. I know that some people are reluctant to speak with the police when they arrive at the scene of the call, so I recommend stopping by the next scheduled police community meeting in your area and speak directly with the officers who patrol your neighborhood on a daily basis. Also, its important that alley ways are well lit, vacant and abandoned properties are identified and demolished, trash is removed in a timely manner. Its not acceptable to have a few individuals in a neighborhyood ruin the quality of living for everyone. The more information you can provide to the police department the greater our chances of identifying and arresting the drug dealer ruining your neighborhood. Please visit the Police Departments website at WWW.PPDonline.org. You can provide information that way also.

Please explain how one Srgt was demoted and the other Srgt- who was on the scene the entire time-and did not also intervene- was not reprimanded?
Thank you for your email. I reviewed the unedited version of the video tape. Three sergeants arrived on the scene at various times. Each member's actions were reviewed individually and disciplinary decisions were made based on that.

Commissioner
I am the mother of a Philadelphia Police Officer, and of two future philadelphia police officers (taking test May 31st) and I just want to say thank you. Our Police Department is the best in the country, our officers work hard and the city is getting better. Proud Parent and Citizen.
Comment:

What is going to be done about cracking down on the voilence in philly? whether it be from police or citizens? what can be done to prevent police brutality in the future?
Just wondering, Violent crime is done 8% and homicides are down by 22% this year compared to last. We have been and will continue to work hard to bring violence down. Some of the things we are doing include focusing resources on violent areas and repeat violent offenders. Citizens can help by providing the police with information, joining town watch, creating groups of concerned citizens to work on a crime or disorder problem, and volunteering to work with youths in your neighborhood.

I understand about increasing the visability of the officers in the high crime areas, but isn't the safety of the officers who respond to calls on the line? It doesn't seem responsible to risk any more lives.
Though I appreciate your concern for our safety, we are tasked with the responsibility of going into these high crimes areas to reduce the levels of crime. Though many times these areas can be extremely dangerous it our responsibilty as law enforcenment to protect the public. Every Officer who signs on for this job understands the risk. If we dont enter into the areas of our City where crime is prevalent, we will never be able to effectively deal with and respond to crime and disorder. We take very seriously our responsibility to protect our citizens and must do whatever it takes to do that.

Are police in philadelphia or Pa for that matter allowed to carry and deploy tasers. If not, do you think it would be a good idea to push for the allowance of those devices for police officers?
Thank you for your question as it relates to tasers. The Police Commissioner is considering expanding the use of tasers for police officers and the use of less than lethal devices. Currently, patrol supervisors have the authority to carry tasers. There are a total of eighty (80) tasers issued to patrol and SWAT. Special Weapons and Tactics

To Charles Ramsey I would like to thank you for all of your hard work you have done so far and I would like you to keep it up. I'm a Police Officer in the 5th District for 19th year and I like to say thank for the changes they are really making a different in Department.
I would like for you to come so that I can meet you. Thank you take care.
Comment:

Commissioner: I know that the job of a policeman/woman is very demanding, stressful, and dangerous. They see a lot of death, violence, and trauma daily. Is it possible that the officers could have monthly therapy sessions to help alleviate some of the daily stress? What they see and experience daily, most people couldn't tolerate in a life time. I think that this might help with some of the job related incidents.
Thank you for the email. I am concerned about the stress officers experience on an all too frequent basis. We are in the process of revamping our Employee Assistance Program to better meet the needs of our members. I really appreciate your insight into this matter. If you have suggestions I would like to hear them. You can email me directly at charles.ramsey@phila.gov

There is talk now of releasing non violent criminals from overcrowed prisons,would it not be better to reopen closed prisons or build new ones, we all know that this action will just cause more crime in this city from someone who should be behind bars, I know this may not be your decision but it will be your problem when more man power is needed on the street to try and solve crimes by these criminals
Comment:

I live in the far suburbs and my son is moving to Philadelphia. How can I feel comfortable with him living in such a dangerous city? With all the shootings & killings in the city I am scared for his life.
I appreciate your concern. However, our homicides are down 26%, and our shootings are down 23% . In short, we are making signficant inroads in our effort to reduce the incidence of violence in our city. Naturally, we do not want anyone to get shot or killed in our city. The vast majority of our shooting victims were intended targets. In other words, contrary to what you may read or hear in the media, there are not a bunch of random shootings in this city. However, we acknowledge that we have a long way to go despite our recent success. I am raising two children in this city, so I can appreciate your concerns. But I think this city is a lot safer than it is portrayed.

How do I get a copy of my brothers file?investigation?. He was brutally murdered in 1987 and unfortunately my mother died, never seeing his killers brought to justice.
Thank you for your email. I am very sorry for your loss. I cannot give you a copy of the actual homicide file however I can arrange for you to talk to the detective handling your brothers case. We held a meeting earlier this week in which Homicide Detectives met with family members of murder victims from 2007. We will be holding additional meetings with family members from older homicides in the coming months. In the meantime you can contact our Homicide Branch at 215 686 3334.

With all the murders happening in Philadelphia, How long do you work on solving them before you put them on the back burner?
Homicides are never closed until solved. We keep all unsolved homicides open and regularly review the case to look for new clues or have the case reviewed by a new "set of eyes." We take the solving of homicides very seriously and will never close one until we solve it. We believe we owe that to both the decedent and his/her family.

With the additional officers on the streets are there going to be additional investigators assigned to handle the complaints? My teenage son was robbed 3 months ago and I have a hard time reaching the person who is supposed to be handling the case. What can I do to rectify this situation?
The Police Commissioner's Crime Strategy focuses on deploying more police officers on the streets. Through crime analysis the department is identifying the times and locations were the greatest need exist. This strategy includes deploying more bike officer's, foot patrols, and uniform forces. Information about the status of your son's robbery should be directed to Inspector Jardine at 215-686-3340/41. Inspector Jardine will be able to direct you to the detective division investigating the robbery.

I want to let you guys know that you're doing a outstanding job. There are many officers who care about their job and the community in which they work. Deputy Commissioner Thomas Wright was my Sergeant in the 19th District. I'am the officer who was struck by a vehicle while on bike patrol. Keep up the good work. I pray for my brothers and sisters daily. God Bless the PPD!!!
Comment:

When I called the precinct to report a problem with some illegal parking I was instructed to call 911. It was hardly an emergency. Why couldn't the precinct send a car to investigate?
Our 9-1-1 system is established to dispatch all calls for service. Your call into 9-1-1 it is not given an emergency ranking. When an Officer becomes available after all priority jobs have been handled; then a patrol vehicle will be dispatched. Though you may see cars parked out of your respective Districts the cars are not dispatched from the District Headquarters. Add'l, through the 9-1-1 system we are able to track your call and ensure that it is properly serviced. Thank You for your question

I was in the S.I.T.E. unit which i was honored to be a part i worked the worst hours and every weekend only in the end to get sent to a busy district, I dont mind working in a busy district and will do my JOB but i worked really hard to go to a special unit are transfers going to happen antime soon?
Thanks for the email and all of your hard work. I really appreciate all of the work you and others did while part of S.I.T.E. I do not know when we will open transfers but probably not until after the summer months. In the meantime keep up the good work. Once we are able to get crime under control and our manpower in the districts stabilized some limited transfer can occur.

I live in the Northeast and I was wondering about getting help with problems with neighbors here. I call and nothing gets done. Who can we call to get some help. We are afraid to go to sleep for that is when all the problems happen here at our house. Thanks
Bonnie, Thank You for responding. I am concerned about your comment. Any call paced to 911 does in fact receive some type of police reponse. However, one thing you must keep in mind is the number of calls being placed and type of call being placed. For example, if you were to call 911 in reference to a disorderly crowd outside your home and someone else calls 911 about a crime in progress the crime in progress call would receive a response before the disorderly crowd. Now magnify that scenerio througout the entire city and you can imagine how many calls are being sent to 911 on a regular basis. You may need to contact your local police district and speak to an officer regarding a roll call complaint for your concerns. This will be read to the officers during roll call and the officers would concentrate their efforts in the area so the problem may be addressed before the need to call 911. Also, you may visit the departments website at WWW.PPDonline.org to log a roll call complaint or send an e-mail to your local police commander. Thank You for the reply.

My fiance was running with a group of young women yesterday in Center City in front of the Art Museum. They were harassed by 8 uniformed police officers who were idling near their patrol cars. They made calls and yelled crude comments to the women as they ran by. Given the recent behavior of the police force recently, is this standard behavior? Can we expect such primitive behavior from our Police force? Is this not something that should be largely obvious to trained professionals?
Police officers should conduct themselves in a professional and dignified manner at all times!! Any deviation from these principles should be immediately reported to a police department commander or supervisor. This process can be initiated by calling the pertinent police district and requesting to speak with a supervisor, or contacting Police Radio by dialing 9-1-1 and requesting that a supervisor is dispatched to your location. Additionally, you can call our Internal Affairs Bureau at 215-685- 5056. Citizen participation is a key aspect of police-community relations. When derelictions occur, it is imperative that police command and supervisory personnel are apprised as soon as possible. This type of behavior is not condoned or tolerated in our police department. Our community deserves better!! Thank you for your participation in this process.

i think it ok to have outside roll call if you have enough officers to fill the ranks but how about those districts that are short of man power you know all districts are going to be under the microscope from media,community groups even people who want to know man power in order to commit crimes, against the people of our fair city.
The rollcalls outdoors are meant to be symbolic in nature and meant to send a message to the community that there is help in the form of uniform police. There is also a hope that we send a message to those in the neighborhood prone to commit crimes. The normal roll calls will be held and sensitve information shared with the officers. Some of those reporting on will be asked to meet at a central location where another rollcall will be held. We will have sufficient personnel during these outdoor rollcalls to get both of our messages across.

Hi i was wondering if the rumors were true about the police trying 2 make alot of money for the next couple of months? i heard they will be pulling people over for as much as they can.
David, I am not exactly clear on your question. If your question is that through increased vehicle stops Officers make more money, that would not be true. Their is no additional funding to Officers for increased vehicle investigations. Thank you for your question.

Have we ever thought of an Auxillary Department of officers on the street kind of like what they have in New York?
Thank you for the email.I had the pleasure of working with citizen volunteers (Reserve Officers) while I served in the District of Columbia. I would like to see a similar program in Philadelphia. It would be an asset to our crime fighting efforts.

When I look at all levels of crime, I am convinced that from the thief who snatches pocketbooks to the murder rate, so many of today's crimes can be traced back to drugs and drug use as a source. Do you agree, and if not how do you assess the psychological or social reasons for the amount of crime being commited in our City? If you do agree, does the DEA get involved in our area or are investigations conducted solely by Philadelphia's Narcotics Division?
I absolutely agree with you Donna. It is my belief that there is a definte correlation between drug use and criminal activity. Many offenders have admitted that they were either under the influence of illegal drugs during the commission of their crime, or that they were committing a crime to obtain money for drugs. All this does not take into account the number of offenders who are never apprehended. Actually, the DEA is involved in drug investigations in this city. In addition, our Narcotics Division works very closely with agents from the DEA.

How can I get an undercover narcotics officer to monitor a husband and wife who are dealing drugs. We live on a very quiet street in South Philly where there is virtually no crime (yes we are lucky), they do not work they are either standing on the corner of 16th & Bigler waiting for cars to pull up or the cars are always pulling up in front of their house on the 2900 block of S. 16th St. Their activities in front of their house and on Bigler Street need to be watched for a couple of days, everybody on the street knows they deal but nobody will say anything. They drive 2 cars which we know are not insured please give some advise. Thank you for all of your help in trying to make the city better, it is truly appreciated
Hi Rose, Thank you ! I suggest that you contact the Commanding Officer of the Narcotics Field Unit and provide additional details. Capt. Deb Frazier can be reached at 215-685-1018. You also have the option of contacting our anonymous drug hot-line. The number for the hot-line is 215-686-Drugs. We need the public assistance in fighting the city's drug problem; and being the former Chief Inspector of the Narcotics Bureau...I can attest that some of the best cases started with an anonymous telephone call. Thank You,

Can the State Police come in and assist with both manpower and resources?
Actually they State Police do assist us by patrolling the interstates (76 & 95). In addition, the State Police work with us on various investigative task forces.

Why do police officers babysit construction sites directing traffic?
Why can't the traffic wardens who give parking tickets or police cadets do that?
Thank you for your question. Quite often, construction sites create traffic hazards for the motoring and walking public. The Police Department ensures that those sites that are potentially hazardous are covered at the expense of the construction site. The Police Department is reimbursed for the use of the Police officer to ensure traffic safety. Detours, closed streets, and dangerous highway conditions are all potentially dangerous and we take them serioiusly.

Ramsey- when was the last time that you worked a beat on the street? As a head supervisor, how can you expect anyone below you to do a job that you are not willing to do? A proper supervisor never asks of his employees a task that he/she is unwilling to perform.
I joined the Chicago Police Department in 1968 and served as a beat and tactical officer until I was promoted to sergeant in 1977. I worked Narcotics for 8 years when I was promoted to lieutenant where I served in Homicide and as a tactical lieutenant. My career in policing spans 40 years including 29 in the Chicago PD, more than 8 years as Chief of Police in Washington, DC and as late as yesterday I spent a couple of hours out patrolling the street after I finished my work at the PAB. My responsibilities now go way beyond being just a supervisor or patrolling a beat. I can assure you that very few in law enforcement have more street experience than I do or locked up more criminals than I have. Thanks for the email.