Ramsey: Two killings by police not 'murders'
Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey told a South Philadelphia audience last night that he did not accept the characterizations of two killings by police officers this weekend as murders.
Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey told a South Philadelphia audience last night that he did not accept the characterizations of two killings by police officers this weekend as murders.
Confronted with three fatal shootings of civilians so far this year, the city's new commissioner bristled when Sheila Love, a South Philadelphia activist, said multiple witnesses came forth to testify about two murders committed by police but were reluctant to cooperate on other investigations.
"You're referring to two police shootings, those weren't murders," he said. "Those were fatal shootings that involved police, and we're investigating them right now, but to refer to them as murders is just flat-out wrong, and I don't accept that."
Ramsey's comments, greeted by scattered applause from the audience of about 600 people in the South Philadelphia High School auditorium, was as close as it got to tense during the two-hour meeting, the first of six sessions Ramsey has organized to gather public comment before he unveils his anticrime strategy Jan. 30.
For the most part, the dozens of speakers who lined up to comment offered pragmatic suggestions - better lighting, cleaner streets, more community outreach from the police.
Ramsey promised to get tough on criminals, and dismissed one speaker who suggested that legalizing drugs was the solution.
"I have no plans to support that," Ramsey said. But when another speaker suggested that school drug-testing and cameras in classrooms might be effective tools, the commissioner suggested the citizenry should hesitate before giving up its freedom.
"I don't think you can go around treating everybody like a criminal just because we have a few criminals in our midst," he said.
While the department's top commanders sat in the front row, Ramsey stood alone at a lectern taking notes while dozens of speakers lined up to ask their questions. Several said they were curious to see the new commissioner, a Chicago native who was chief of police in Washington for nine years.
"This city is blessed to have you," said Dan Discher, a Rittenhouse Square resident who encouraged Ramsey to emulate the strategy used in New York City to reduce crime by addressing quality-of-life issues such as public urination and trashy streets.
If there was any hostility to the police as a result of the large number of officer-involved shootings in Philadelphia - three people killed so far this year, 15 last year, and 20 the year before - it was pretty much squelched when Mayor Nutter arrived midway through the meeting to a standing ovation and urged the audience to give police officers a similar accolade for putting their lives on the line every day.
Meeting Schedule
Here are dates, times and places for Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey's public meetings:
Today, 7 p.m. - Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Ave.
Tomorrow, 7 p.m. - Stetson High School, B Street and Allegheny Avenue.
Thursday, 7 p.m. - William Penn High School, 1333 N. Broad St.
Next Tuesday, 7 p.m. - Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, 2251 N. 54th St.
Jan. 23, 7 p.m. - Martin Luther King High School, Stenton Avenue and Haines Street.
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