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A Q&A with PPD’s new homicide commander | Morning Newsletter

And more Flower Show fun.

Captain Ernest Ransom talks during a visit to the Belfield Recreation Center in July 2019.
Captain Ernest Ransom talks during a visit to the Belfield Recreation Center in July 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
    by Ashley Hoffman
    Published 

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

It will be a bit less blustery today.

Today we have an interview with the Philadelphia Police Department commander of the homicide unit, and let me know if you can spot where the lie is in today’s pop quiz.

And I know you never want to miss a beat from our ace politics team here. They’re always out and about blanketing politics at the federal, state and local level, and operating at a high level in general to be honest. If you like knowing things before anyone else and that sort of thing ...

🐦 Stay up to speed by following Philadelphia Inquirer Politics on Twitter.

If you see this 🔑 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.

— Ashley Hoffman (@_AshleyHoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

PPD’s new homicide commander on leading a demanding unit, solving cases, and curbing scandal

The Philadelphia Police Department has a new commander in the Homicide Unit amid the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis. Meet Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom.

He’ll oversee the detectives and supervisors in the Homicide Unit. A staff inspector with Internal Affairs experience, he tells us he’ll keep closer eye on a unit that has been marked by scandal in recent years. Reporter Ellie Rushing spoke with him about his experience and his plans at a critical time.

Keep reading for more on the new commander.🔑

What you should know today

  1. These parents say ‘no’ to relocating their children to Strawberry Mansion High School.

  2. The Philly Flower Show hits the ‘wow’ factor with first-day visitors.

  3. Andrew Painter’s status on hold as Phillies review results of tests on phenom’s ‘tender’ elbow.

  4. A historian discovered a mural of George Washington in a basement in New Jersey.

  5. Some of the mayoral candidates have musical gifts.

  6. Beyond the photo of the day which is below, here’s what our photographers have been seeing.

  7. Don’t you forget about Mick. Mick Abel that is, the other half of the Phillies’ best pitching prospect dynamic duo in 20 years.

❓Pop quiz: Where is the lie edition❓

What is definitely not at the Flower Show this weekend?

A) a magical, twinkling fairy house, home to the Peace Fairy

B) a Studio 54-inspired disco

C) an edible flower crown workshop

D) plants that activate only at night

Find out if you remember the answer.

🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩

Former Boston boy turned Philly gentleman Ben Franklin invented this for swimming.

DANDLED HAP

We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Email us if you know the answer. Cheers to Kathy who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: JACOB HILL.

Photo of the Day

🎶 For today’s Sunday track, we’re listening to “Cry to Me.”🎶

👋🏽 I’ll be at the Philadelphia Flower Show this weekend. I go every year.