Ramsey Adding 25 Officers To Internal Affairs Unit
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey is adding 25 officers to the department's Internal Affairs unit to better investigate cases of police misconduct.
In the wake of months of corruption-tinged cases, Commissioner Ramsey (above) is boosting the size of the Internal Affairs Division from 100 to 125.
He says he wants to speed up the investigation of allegations of misconduct within the ranks of the force:
"When we do get an allegation, we want to make sure that its investigated in a timely fashion. There's nothing worse than making a complaint, and then waiting, and waiting and waiting."
And Ramsey was pleased that many officers applied to be part of what can be an unpleasant task -- investigating your own:
"Our officers are very tired of the embarrassment that comes from some of the high-profile cases we've had recently. And people want to do what they can to bring that under control. And I'm proud of them for that."
Ramsey wants to cut the length of the average internal affairs investigation from the current 60-90 days to about 45 days.
The police department tonight is hosting a series of community forums throughout the city. The forums are from 6 PM to 8 PM at these locations:
East Division
24th District
Salvation Army -1920 E. Allegheny Avenue
25th District
St. Hugh's Church – Mascher & Tioga
26th District
Lutheran Settlement House - 1340 N. Frankford Avenue
Northeast Division
2nd District
St Williams Church - Robbins & Argyle Streets
7th District
CORA Services-8540 Veree Road
8th District
Norcom Community Center-10980 Norcom Road, Philadelphia, PA 19114
15th District
Disston Rec Center-Disston and Glenloch Street, 7pm
Northwest Division
5th District
Kendrick Recreation Center, 5800 Ridge Ave
14th District
New Bethel AME Church, 6153 Germantown Ave
35th District
Holy Trinity Church, Marvine & Rockland Sts
39th District
Geiger Memorial Brethren Church, 2543 W. Lehigh Ave
ROC SOUTH MEETINGS:
South Division
1st District
St. Richard's Church - 19th & Pollack Sts. (3000 S. 19th St.)
3rd District
E.O.M. Club - 138 Moore St.
17th District
Wharton Square Bldg. - 23rd & Wharton Sts.
Central Division
6th District
Chinese Christian Church & Center - 1101 Vine St
9th District
Community College of Phila - Center for Business & Industry - 18th & Callowhill Sts, 2nd floor #C228
22nd District
Winchester Recreation Center - 2330 N. 15th Street
Southwest Division
12th District
Ezekiel Baptist Church - 5701 Grays Ave
16th District
Christian Stronghold Church - 4701 Lancaster Ave.
18th District
YMCA - 5124 Chestnut Street
19th District
Sweet Union Baptist Church - 1536 N 59th Street
Reported By Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio
