Ramsey to consult public on crime plan
The police commissioner will hold neighborhood meetings to gather ideas to reduce crime.
New Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey wants to hear from the public for a plan he is putting together to submit to Mayor Nutter this month outlining ideas to reduce city crime.
Starting Monday evening, the commissioner will be hosting the first of six neighborhood meetings he has scheduled throughout the city to meet with the community.
"Anybody who is a stakeholder in that community is welcome," said Lt. Frank Vanore of the Public Affairs Unit. "He wants to get the public's perspective and their input in putting together the plan."
When Nutter took office this week, he declared a state of emergency and vowed to cut crime, instructing the newly appointed Ramsey to create a plan.
Among his goals, Nutter said he wanted to reduce the murder rate by 30 to 50 percent in the next several years.
Last year, violent crime in the city dropped 8 percent while the homicide rate dropped 3 percent.
In 2007, there were 392 homicides, 14 fewer than in 2006, when the city hit a 10-year high. A 30 to 50 percent reduction would mean roughly 200 to 275 homicides a year, a low the city has not seen in recent history.
The day he was sworn into office, Ramsey called the mayor's goals "doable," but emphasized that it may take time. Since New Year's Day, however, there has been a drop in homicides that seems to be giving the commissioner some reprieve.
As of midnight Wednesday, there were six homicides this year, compared with 14 during the same eight-day period at the start of 2007.
It's far too soon, officials say, to declare that the 57 percent drop is significant. It's based only on a week.
Ramsey is credited for driving the homicide rate down by 49 percent during the nine years he was chief in Washington.
In looking for a replacement to Sylvester M. Johnson, who retired as commissioner last week after 43 years with the department, Nutter stressed he wanted a more aggressive approach to policing.
Ramsey has said he is considering a controversial "stop-and-frisk" program to target those carrying illegal weapons as well as enhancing patrols at the district level.
He is reviewing deployment in 23 districts and focusing on eight districts that have the highest crime rates. Since taking over as police chief, Ramsey has met with various commanders.
Talk to the Commissioner
Here are the dates, times and places for Commissioner Ramsey's public meetings:
Monday, 7 p.m. - South Philadelphia High School, South Broad Street and Snyder Avenue.
Tuesday, 7 p.m. - Lincoln High School, 3201 Ryan Ave.
Wednesday, 7 p.m. - Stetson High School, B Street and Allegheny Avenue.
Thursday, 7 p.m. - William Penn High School, 1333 N. Broad St.
Jan. 22, 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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