Top priorities for Philly's new top cop
What should Richard Ross focus on as the new police commissioner?
OH, HOW RICHIE ROSS had waited for the moment that finally arrived Tuesday.
Decked out in his dress blues, Ross officially was sworn in as Philadelphia's new police commissioner by Mayor Kenney during a ceremony at Central High School.
It was the culmination of a journey that began when Ross joined the police force in 1989, and accelerated dramatically when he was appointed deputy commissioner in 2005, leading many insiders to label him as the eventual favorite for the top job.
But the glow from this day - the joy of finally reaching the height of his profession, in front of old friends and family - will soon fade.
There's work to be done, after all. So much work.
Ross talked generally after the ceremony about how he will handle the challenges that lie ahead.
But what do citizens and local officials want to see from the city's new top cop?
Rodney Muhammad, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP, said he hopes Ross will improve the relationship between police and minority communities.
"Too often, people in communities of color feel like they're living in occupied territory," he said.
"There has to be a better balance. We need good policing that will fight crime, but not fight the people who are not criminals. Sometimes, you treat all of the people of a community as criminals without realizing you're doing that."
In the eyes of both Muhammad and City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, Ross is the ideal person to sort through such complicated issues.
"He's a very easy person to talk to," Clarke said.
"There needs to be, frankly speaking, somebody on the community side, or a number of individuals, who sit across the table from Rich Ross. You can't talk to yourself about reforms. You have to have partners."
One person who wants to be at that table is Asa Khalif, head of the Pennsylvania chapter of Black Lives Matter.
Khalif has led numerous protests throughout the city since his cousin Brandon Tate-Brown was fatally shot by a Philadelphia police officer in December 2014.
He said he wants to hear Ross' thoughts on the controversial case, and hopes the new commissioner will commit to maintaining a more transparent police department.
"He can follow the lead of the new mayor and reach out to us, even if it's a pain in the ass," Khalif said.
"But I'd prefer to give him a chance. I want to sit down and hear his ideas. The ball is in his court."
Kelvyn Anderson, executive director of the civilian-run Police Advisory Commission, said he wants to see Ross continue to implement a wide array of policy reforms recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Anderson also is curious about the department's long-running plan to equip cops across the city with body cameras. "I'd really like to hear more about how that will work," he said.
John McNesby, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said he expects to continue a close working relationship with Ross.
"He's pretty much been the copilot of the ship for the last three or four years," McNesby said.
Ross was former Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey's top deputy, and oversaw the department's day-to-day operations when Ramsey traveled out of town for other commitments.
"Richie's a good guy," McNesby said. "He's got his work cut out for him."
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