New Police Commissioner Chosen for Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s mayor-elect Jim Kenney has chosen the city’s next police commissioner. Richard Ross will replace outgoing commissioner Charles Ramsay, who has held the post for the last seven years and is planning to retire. Ross, aged 51, is the current first deputy commissioner of the department, and was widely regarded as the obvious choice to fill Ramsay’s post. As commissioner he will oversee a corps of 6,000 of the city’s officers and civilian personnel working in the Patrol, Special Investigations and Homeland Security units. Philadelphia has the country’s 4th-largest police force.

Richard Ross will take over as Philadelphia’s new police commissioner in January. Image: 6abc

Ross is an established veteran of the force, with 26 years of experience behind him. He has been working as Ramsay’s first deputy since 2008. He has previously served as the deputy commissioner of the Internal Affairs unit and was captain of the Homicide Unit. He also oversaw department operations between the years of 2005 and 2008, including making policy changes in training and investigations of police shootings. Ross was also the man behind the police coordination of the World Series celebration in 2008.