Charles Ramsey: 'I'm Not Burnt Out, I'm Not Tired'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey discussed the plan to step down from his post when the next Mayor takes office in January and responded to protests last week at the Community College of Philadelphia against department recruiters.
Ramsey, talking with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, said he is moving on, not retiring, and still has a lot to offer anyone who is willing to listen.
"I'm not burnt out. I'm not tired. I do consider myself to be in my prime. I just think that I can contribute a lot more to policing if I was able to focus more on national issues and really help other departments and other chiefs, not that I have all the answers, but I do have quite a bit of experience and may be of value to someone."
One of the Commissioner's main issues of focus is raising the education level of officers serving their communities.
"I believe that, in order for us to be successful in the future, we need better educated police officers and that education doesn't just stop with 60 hours. We have to provide opportunities that go way beyond that. Whether you want to do it in terms of getting a formal degree or just constant learning about things that are going on in policing. I'm very much into that and I think, at some point in time, we have to come to a realization as a society that telling kids that they can just get a 12th grade education and they're going to be successful in life is really unfair to them."
Regarding the protests at Community College of Philadelphia, Ramsey said they will continue undeterred in trying to attract the best qualified candidates.
"We're going to continue to recruit. If the administration there says we don't want you to recruit, then we would simply go across the street, off their property, somewhere else. We're going to recruit wherever we need to recruit. We need college educated people. These folks are a minority and just because you're loud doesn't mean that you're right. Just the language, I hadn't heard police referred to as pigs since I came on in 60's and 70's. That attitude and rhetoric is ignorant and shouldn't be tolerated and they sure as hell aren't going to drive me out of anywhere."