In keeping with his initiative to reduce the crime rates in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter appointed Charles Ramsey as the city's new Police Commissioner.
Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush says that she believes that "Commissioner Ramsey will be making a big difference in the Philadelphia Police Department and the City of Philadelphia."
"We are very happy that the Mayor is taking the issue of crime and quality of life in the city of Philadelphia seriously," said Rush.
Ramsey has already instituted a number of changes, including holding 90-minute daily morning meetings to review the previous night's crime trends and six different nightly meetings across the city to get the public's opinion on what is going well and what still needs improvement.
Ramsey will propose his plan for the Police Department at the end of the month.
"From what I understand," said Rush, "he is big on accountability."
Rush explained that Ramsey will probably hold the inspectors and each district captain more responsible for reducing crime and improving the quality of life for citizens in their appointed areas.
Ramsey has said in the past that he plans on increasing the number of uniformed officers on the streets - an element that Rush says is "key" - and using technology to improve security efforts.
Although Rush has met Ramsey at two separate events on the same day, they have not had an official meeting.
At the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police dinner on Jan. 10, Rush spoke with Ramsey, who expressed his "desire to work with universities in Philadelphia."
Since then, the Division of Public Safety has set a date to meet formally with the Commissioner. A closed "conversation with Commissioner Ramsey" will take place on Feb. 8. at the monthly meeting of University City Public Safety Group, of which Rush is a chairwoman.
The purpose of his participating in the meeting, says Rush is to "introduce him to the group, to hear our concerns, and educate him about the University City area."
Rush said Ramsey will also have "the opportunity to discuss his vision for Philadelphia."
Rush said that the Penn and other University City organizations want Ramsey to see that "Philadelphia has a lot of great partners to help him in his mission."
"I hope that he'll be successful," Rush said. "We - University City public safety [and] departments across the city - will do all we can to help him achieve success . in driving down crime and improving the quality of life for the city."
Ray Betzner, a representative from Temple University's Department of Safety, said Temple plans to have a meeting with the new Police Commissioner next month.
While "it was a little premature to express an opinion," he said, "we are looking forward to the working relationship" with Ramsey.
