Phila. Police Chief Orders Disgraced Badges to be Melted
Major changes are planned to deal with a recent series of high profile corruption cases in the Philadelphia police department. The heat is on those who violate the oath of office and their badges.
KYW's Tony Hanson reports Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has instituted a policy of taking disgraced badges and the specific badge numbers handed down through generations of officers out of service and melting them:
"I believe there is a legacy associated with the badge. This new recruit class that comes out in October, not only will they be given a badge, I've asked Deputy Gaittens to look at the lineage of that badge. I want them to know everyone who wore that badge before them. They may find its a family member, maybe a former Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Lieutenant or whatever. You need to understand where you fit in the context of the bigger picture."
While emphasizing repeatedly the vast majority of officers serve with honor, the Commissioner also emphasized officers who dishonor the badge dishonor all officers, past and present.
