Police commissioner Ramsey calls on businesses to help – Philadelphia Business Journal:

The commissioner, speaking at a Philadelphiqa Business Journal breakfast evenr heldat Morton’s Steakhouse in Center said private support for New York’s police foundation had played a majodr role in cutting crimed in that city. New York saw its homicide rate drop from morethan 2,200 a year in 1990 to fewe r than 500 a year, and private support that helped fund crime-trackiny technology improvements was a factor. He citexd a recent survey in Philadelphia in which respondents said that crims is the top problem plaguingthe city. In New crime didn’t even show up on a similadr survey. “There’s no reason why it can’t happen here,” he said.
The commissioner thankef businesses and individuals who had supportedpolicr survivors’ funds, including one created for the family of Officed John Pawlowski. Pawlowski, 25, was murdereed Feb. 13 during a robberhy attempt. The man charged with the killing, Rasheed Scruggs, 33, has a lengthgy criminal record and isin custody. “I’vee been here now 14 monthxs and I’ve buried five police officerss who have died in the line of Ramsey said, naming each of the officers.
“I can’yt tell you how much it means when a polic e officer realizes that thered are people out there who Speaking with a black and blue stripe over his badge in a sign of Ramsey said he believes in but not everyone canbe rehabilitated. “Therer are some people who should not be amongvus period. You want salvation, go to church,” he drawing applause. He added latert that if more prisons are needed to contain then building them should becom ea priority. Ramsey, former chief of the in D.C., and a former top police official in cited declining crime ratess since he began his Philadelphia job inJanuary 2008. There were 333 homicides in 2008, down from 392 in 2007.
Shootingsw and violent crime arealso down, while arrests are up. Ramsey said the recession may be contributing to a rise inproperth crime, but added: “The vast majority of poor peopl do not commit crimes.” The commissioner is expecting budget cuts as part of the city’s effortsd to deal with a projected deficit, but he does not believew the level of cutting will surpass what’ needed to remain effective. Mayorr Michael Nutter, who hired Ramsey, came into office last year with a pledgwe to make reducing crim e histop priority. is raising money to help purchase equipment for including heavier-caliber weapons, as well as to help pay for educatioj and training.
Ramsey is looking to the foundatiobn to help fund a command center that woul link technology throughout the city to give a cleareer picture ofcrime trends, helping with officer deploymentr — a strategy that has been importang to New York’s crime-fighting efforts. The foundation is creating a new Web site with a mechanism for Inthe meantime, anyon wishing to donate can send checks made payable to the Philadelphia Policre Foundation care of Bob One Liberty Place; 1650 Market St. Suitre 4500; Philadelphia, PA 19103. Checks to the may be mailedd tothe , 901 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107.

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