PRINTER'S NO. 2687
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
626
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, BISHOP, COHEN, WHEELAND, VEREB, CALTAGIRONE,
ROZZI, BIZZARRO, J. HARRIS, HENNESSEY, V. BROWN, READSHAW,
CRUZ, MURT, MILLARD, PAYNE, DiGIROLAMO, O'BRIEN, THOMAS,
D. PARKER, MAHONEY, McCARTER, DRISCOLL, ROSS, BULLOCK,
YOUNGBLOOD, MCCLINTON, NEILSON, C. PARKER, TAYLOR AND
DONATUCCI, DECEMBER 19, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
DECEMBER 19, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Honoring Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey for his
service and congratulating him on his retirement.
WHEREAS, Charles Ramsey's career in law enforcement began at
18 years of age when he served as a beat officer in his native
City of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey was appointed Philadelphia Police
Commissioner in 2008, following roles with the Chicago Police
Department and the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington,
DC; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey leads the nation's fourth largest police
department, comprising 6,600 sworn members and 800 civilian
members; and
WHEREAS, Under Ramsey's leadership, the number of homicides
in Philadelphia fell from almost 400 in 2007 to 248 in 2014,
representing a 50% drop in homicides from the city's 1990 peak
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of 500 homicides; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, Ramsey asked the United States Department
of Justice to review police use of force in the Philadelphia
Police Department, which is currently working to implement the
recommendations outlined in the Department of Justice's report;
and
WHEREAS, As a prominent voice in the national dialogue
surrounding policing and community relations, Ramsey embraced
community policing within and beyond the Philadelphia Police
Department and stressed the need to build trust between law
enforcement and the public; and
WHEREAS, In January 2015, the President of the United States
called on Ramsey to co-chair the President's Task Force on 21st
Century Policing, which was aimed at providing advice and
recommendations to strengthen the relationship between police
and the communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey has earned national and international
recognition for his law enforcement expertise and serves on the
International Association of Chiefs of Police Executive
Committee as well as the United States Homeland Security
Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, Ramsey announced in October 2015, that he is
retiring from the Philadelphia Police Department effective
January 7, 2016, after eight years with the department and 47
years in law enforcement overall; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey for his service
in Philadelphia and beyond and congratulate him on his
retirement; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
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Commissioner Charles Ramsey.
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