Charles H. Ramsey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chuck Ramsey
Born	1950 (age 74–75) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Relatives	Anne Ramsey (Aunt)
Police career
Department	Philadelphia Police Department DC Metropolitan Police Department Chicago Police Department
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	City of Philadelphia District of Columbia City of Chicago
Years of service	1971-1998 1998-2007 2008-2016
Rank	- Police Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department January 7, 2008 - January 5, 2016 (retirement) - Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia April 21, 1998 - January 2, 2007 Chicago Police Department - Deputy Superintendent, 1994 - 1998 - Deputy Chief, Patrol Division 1992 - 1994 - Commander, ... Division 1989 - 1992 - Captain 1988 - 1989 - Lieutenant 1984 - 1988 - Sergeant 1977 - 1984 Patrol Officer 1971 - 1977

Charles H. Ramsey (born in 1950) is a well-known American law enforcement officer. He served as the Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department. Before that, he was the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC). He worked there from 1998 to 2007. After retiring, he started working for CNN in 2017.

Ramsey grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He joined the Chicago Police Department when he was 18 years old in 1968. He started as a patrol officer. Over the years, he earned many promotions. He became a sergeant in 1977. Later, he became a lieutenant in 1984 and a captain in 1988. By 1994, he was appointed Deputy Superintendent.

Ramsey's Time as Police Chief in Washington, D.C.

In 1998, Charles Ramsey became the police chief for Washington, D.C.. During his eight years as chief, crime rates in the city went down by about 40%. He also worked to improve community policing programs. These programs help police officers work closely with local neighborhoods.

Chief Ramsey also made the police department better in many ways. He improved how new officers were hired and trained. He also updated their equipment and facilities. He changed the department's structure to reduce paperwork and make things run smoother. He also helped create a special 3-1-1 phone system for non-emergency calls. This made it easier for people to get help from the police. He also made crime information available to the public online.

His department also helped the Department of Homeland Security. They assisted during important national events. These included the state funerals for former presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.

Traffic Safety and Public Concerns

Under Chief Ramsey, the D.C. police started using traffic checkpoints. At these checkpoints, information about drivers was sometimes collected. This led to some discussions about privacy. Some people, including police union officials, felt it was an invasion of privacy.

Another event that caused public discussion happened in 2002. Police officers gathered a large group of people in Pershing Park. These people were there to protest some meetings. Many people, including journalists and regular pedestrians, were held by the police. This action led to legal discussions about people's rights. Later, the city of Washington agreed to pay money to some of the people who were held.

Leaving the D.C. Police Department

On November 20, 2006, Ramsey announced he would leave his job as police chief. His last day was January 2, 2007. This was the same day the new Washington, D.C. Mayor, Adrian M. Fenty, took office. Mayor Fenty chose Cathy L. Lanier to replace Ramsey.

Even though his official last day was December 28, 2006, Ramsey stayed a few extra days. He helped with security during the state funeral of former president Gerald Ford.

Becoming Philadelphia's Police Commissioner

After leaving D.C., Charles Ramsey came out of retirement. On November 15, 2007, the new Philadelphia Mayor, Michael Nutter, asked him to be the Police Commissioner. Ramsey accepted and started his new role on January 7, 2008.

Under Ramsey's leadership in Philadelphia, the city saw a big drop in crime. The homicide rate went down by 37 percent. Violent crime also decreased by 31 percent. In the most dangerous parts of the city, homicides dropped by over 40 percent.

Ramsey used several new methods to fight crime. He installed many surveillance cameras in high-crime areas. He also increased the number of police officers walking or biking on patrol. This helped officers connect more with the community.

In 2014, President Obama chose Ramsey for an important role. He became co-chair of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. This group worked on improving policing across the country. Ramsey also led other important police organizations.

On October 14, 2015, Ramsey announced he would retire from the Philadelphia Police Department. His retirement became official on January 5, 2016.