Former Commissioner Charles Ramsey talks police-community relations at DNC
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey took the stage Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention to address the deep divide between police and some of the communities they serve. Ramsey also addressed the killings of officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
"People that are literally there protecting the rights of people protesting against police, and you gun them down? No, there's no excuse for that at all," said Ramsey, adding it makes him angry.
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Ramsey was added to the DNC speakers lists last week after the Philadelphia Police Union raised a stink that families of victims of police shootings were invited to speak, but not families of police officers killed. He told the convention Hillary Clinton is a leader that will protect officers from being outgunned by weapons of war.
"She will work to strengthen the bonds of trust between police and the communities they serve," said Ramsey. "That's why she has my vote."
PHOTOS: The 2016 DNC in Philadelphia
After 47 years in law enforcement, we asked Ramsey: How do you begin to address the divide between police and some of the communities they serve?
"Be honest about what's going on. Don't just try to say that all the problems fall on the shoulders of police," said Ramsey. "Police are in these communities because of the violence. If black lives matter, they matter no matter who takes them."
Ramsey is retired, but is doing work with a couple of cities like Wilmington and Cleveland. He's also Distinguished Fellow at Drexel and the Lindy Institute.
