Philadelphia Police Traffic Officers with their Patrol Car

The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest municipal police agencies in the United States, and the fourth largest in the country. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2363x1851, 1058 KB) Three Philadelphia police officers and a captain(?) standing next to a police SUV. File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philadelphia Police Department Metadata This... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2363x1851, 1058 KB) Three Philadelphia police officers and a captain(?) standing next to a police SUV. File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Philadelphia Police Department Metadata This... Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly, the Quaker City Motto: Philadelphia maneto (Let brotherly love continue) Location in Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Philadelphia Founded October 27, 1682 Incorporated October 25, 1701 Mayor John F. Street (D) Area    - City 369. ...

Departmental History

Current Department patch

Prior to 1830 the City's police system consisted only of nightly watchmen's patrols directed by the constables of each ward. An ordinance of December 30 of that year first established a "police patrol" which served throughout the day as well as night. Many ordinances extended the scope of the system; in 1833 the City Commissioners' function of lighting the streets was transferred to it and in 1841 a full-scale Police Department was created under the direction of the Mayor. Image File history File links PhiladelphiaPolice. ... Image File history File links PhiladelphiaPolice. ...

The Marshal Bill (Act of May 3, 1850) established a Philadelphia Police District which embraced the City and the adjoining Districts of Spring Garden, Kensington, the Northern Liberties, Richmond, Penn, Southwark and Moyamensing. A forerunner of the City-County consolidation of 1854, this new organization solved problems that had arisen through the demarcation of police powers at City and District boundaries. With the Consolidation a County-wide Department of Police was established and duties in regard to street lighting were transferred to the Department of Gas.

After 1857 the Department of Police was headed by a Chief appointed by the Mayor; in 1859 a Detective Division was formed within the Department and in the following year a River and Harbor Police were added to it. In 1864 the office of Fire Marshal was created within the Department, where it remained until 1937. In pursuance of the Bullitt Bill the Department was transferred in 1887 to the then-established Department of Public Safety as the Bureau of Police. With the adoption of the City Charter of 1951 and the abolishment of the Department of Public Safety the present Police Department was organized.^[1] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Department of Public Safety is a state or local government umbrella agency in the United States which serves to assist the certain agencies in their services by providing administrative, financial, and technical services and support for core public safety functions for some or all of the following: Fire and...

Notable Events in History

In 1881, the PPD hired its first African-American police officer. Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

In 1887, the police department was put under control of the city's Department of Public Safety. Two years later, the PPD inaugurated its mounted patrol (which was recently disbanded in 2004). 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1906, the motorcycle was introduced to the Philadelphia police. 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A Police motorcycle is a motorcycle used by various police departments. ...

In 1939, radio-installed patrol cars were put into use. Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1979, the PPD reached its peak size at approximately 8,500 officers. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...

In 1981, PPD Officer Daniel Faulkner was shot while arresting a motorist. Journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal (nee Wesley Cook), shot and was charged with Officer Faulkner's murder (as he allegedly admitted to shooting the Faulkner upon arrival in the hospital for treatment for wounds suffered when Officer Faulkner returned fire). The incident, subsequent trial and conviction of Jamal remains a topic of controversy around the world. Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Daniel Faulkner Daniel J. Faulkner (December 21, 1955–December 9, 1981) was a police officer in the American city of Philadelphia who was shot and killed in the line of duty by Mumia Abu-Jamal, a member of the Black Panther Party and supporter of MOVE. Mr. ... Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook April 24, 1954[3]) is a former Black Panther Party activist, cab driver and journalist from Philadelphia convicted for the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981. ... This article describes the 1982 Trial of Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the controversies surrounding it. ...

In 1985, the Philadelphia Police dropped a mixture of civilian and military explosives on a "home-made" wood bunker, built on the roof of the house occupied by members of the MOVE organization. The bomb ignited several barrels of gasoline starting a fire which destroyed the entire block and killed eleven people. This article is about the year. ... This article is about the organization. ...

In the early 1990s, a corruption scandal centered around officers in the department's 39th district in North Philadelphia led to the prosecutions of 6 officers, and attracted nationwide attention. The 39th District corruption scandal refers to a persistent pattern of brutality and corruption among a cadre Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) officers, primarily from the departments 39th district, that emerged in late 1995 and received nationwide attention by 1997, eventually resulting in an investigation by Human Rights Watch. ... Map of Philadelphia County with North Philadelphia highlighted. ...

Present-day PPD

"The Roundhouse", Philadelphia Police Department Headquarters

The current Philadelphia Police Department employs more than 6,600 officers, and patrols an area of 369.4 km² (142.6 mi²) with a population of almost 1.5 million. The department is subdivided into twenty-three patrol districts, and like many other large municipal police forces, it incorporates many special units such as a K-9 squad, SWAT, community relations unit, and harbor patrol. The highest-ranking officer, the Commissioner, is currently Sylvester Johnson, a 40-plus year veteran of the force. A former PPD Commissioner, Frank Rizzo, later became the mayor of Philadelphia in the 1970s. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 3557 KB) Maps and aerial photos Street map from MapQuest or Google Local Topographic map from TopoZone Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth or WikiMapia File links The following... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 3557 KB) Maps and aerial photos Street map from MapQuest or Google Local Topographic map from TopoZone Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth or WikiMapia File links The following... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... This article is about Special Weapons and Tactics. ... Statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo that stands in front of the Municipal Services Building in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Francis Lazarro Frank Rizzo, Sr. ...

Special Aspects of the PPD

The PPD has several unique features which distinguish it from other municipal police agencies. One of these features is the department's Hero Scholarship Thrill Show, which is a 45-year-old program designed to provide funds for the college education of the children of PPD officers slain or disabled in the line of duty. Funds are raised through ticket sales for the Thrill Show, which features police and fire department demonstrations, exhibits, and games.

Another unique aspect of the Philadelphia Police is its use of a municipal Strategic Intervention Tactical Enforcement (S.I.T.E) special unit. The Philadelphia SITE Unit serves one role within the department:to serve as a specialized anti-crime task force in high-crime areas of the city. The PPD's SITE unit serves as an elite group who work directly for the current Police Commissioner within the department, and has only a few counterparts in other cities that do the same, most notably Boston's Special Operations Unit. Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... The Boston Police Special Operations Unit is a specialized unit within the Boston Police Department responsible for combined duties involving traffic enforcement, crowd control, and special weapons and tactics (SWAT) services within the city. ...

Ranks within the Department

(Highest to Lowest)

• Police Commissioner (Appointed Position by City's Managing Director with Approval of Mayor)
• Deputy Police Commissioner (Appointed Position by City's Managing Director with Approval of Mayor)
• Deputy Police Comissioner - Civil Service Rank
• Chief Inspector - Civil Service Rank
• Inspector - Civil Service Rank
• Staff Inspector - Civil Service Rank
• Captain - Civil Service Rank
• Lieutenant - Civil Service Rank
• Sergeant - Civil Service Rank
• Detective - Civil Service Rank
• Corporal - Civil Service Rank
• Police Officer - Civil Service Rank
• Police Officer Recruit - Civil Service Rank

The ranks of Corporal and Detective have the same pay grade, but have two entirely different functions. Corporal are "Operations Supervisors" and are responsible for overseeing a Patrol District's Operations Room, or a Special Unit's Operations; i.e.: that reports are submitted accurately and in a timely manner, etc. Only in a few rare instances do Corporals work the street, with the noted exception of S.I.T.E. Unit and SWAT tactical units. Police Commissioner (or Commissioner of Police) is the title of the chief officer of many law enforcement agencies. ... Police Commissioner (or Commissioner of Police) is the title of the chief officer of many law enforcement agencies. ... Police Commissioner (or Commissioner of Police) is the title of the chief officer of many law enforcement agencies. ... Inspector is a rank in many police forces. ... Inspector is a rank in many police forces. ... Captain is a rank or title with various meanings. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... For other uses, see Sergeant (disambiguation). ... Gumshoe redirects here. ... This article is about the military rank. ... Police officers in South Australia A police officer (or policeman/policewoman) is a warranted worker of a police force. ... Recruitment refers to the process of finding possible candidates for a job or function, usually undertaken by recruiters. ...

Detectives come under the Detective Bureau, and are assigned primarely to Divisional Detective Units, and specialized units like Homicide, Organized Crime / Intelligence, and Background Investigation. There are also Police Officers who serve in an investigative capacity, such as in the Juvenile Aid and Special Victims Units. They are paid in the same pay scale as a Police Officer assigned to Patrol.

Unlike some departments, the Philadelphia's Detective Bureau does not have the ranks of Detective Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, etc.

Police Marshalls

• John J. Keyser, 1850 - 1853
• John K. Murphy, 1853 - 1855

Chiefs of Police

• Samuel G. Ruggles, 1855 - 1867
• St. Clair A. Mulhalland, 1867 - 1872
• Kennard Jones, 1872 - 1879
• Samuel L. Given, 1879 - 1884
• James Stewart, 1884 - 1887
• James Lamon, 1887 - 1892

Superintendents of Police

• Robert Linden, 1892 - 1899
• Harry M. Quick, 1899 - 1904
• John B. Taylor, 1904 - 1912
• James Robinson, 1912 - 1920
• William B. Mills, 1920 - 1931
• Joseph E. Lestrange, 1931 - 1936
• James H. Malone, 1936 - 1937
• Edward Hubbs, 1937 - 1940
• Howard P. Sutton, 1950 - 1952

Police Commissioners

• Thomas J. Gibbons, 1952 - 1960
• Albert N. Brown, 1960-1962
• Howard Leary, 1962 - 1965
• Edward J. Bell, 1966 - 1967
• Frank L. Rizzo, 1967 - 1971 (first Italian American commissioner)
• Joseph O'Neil, 1971 - 1980
• Morton B. Solomon, 1980 - 1984
• Gregore J. Sambor, 1984 - 1985
• Kevin M. Tucker, 1985 - 1988
• Willie L. Williams, 1988 - 1992 (first African American commissioner)
• Richard Neal, 1992 - 1998
• John Timoney, 1998 - 2002
• Sylvester Johnson, 2002 - 2007

Statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo that stands in front of the Municipal Services Building in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Francis Lazarro Frank Rizzo, Sr. ... An Italian-American is an American of Italian descent either born in America or someone who has immigrated. ... Willie L. Williams served as LAPD police chief 1992-1997. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... John F. Timoney (born c. ... The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

Demographics

• Male: 70%
• Female: 30%

• White: 55.6%
• African-American/Black: 36.4%
• Hispanic: 6.5%
• Other: 1.5%

Link

2004 Philadelphia Police Annual Report

Wall of Honor

Philadelphia honors those men and women who have died while serving in the line of duty. The memorial plaque is located in the courtyard of Philadelphia City Hall. It resided on the southeast corner of where Broad and Market Street would meet if they continued through the building. Philadelphia City Hall is the seat of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

(NOTE: Prior to 1972, the Fairmount Park Police Department (FPPD) functioned as a separate unit within the City of Philadelphia. Members of the FPPD, who fell in the line of duty are included in the below list with the letters "FPPD" after their name)

Unless otherwise noted, the rank of those below is Police Officer.

Popular Culture

• The PPD is featured in the 1978 zombie film Dawn of the Dead in which the PPD S.W.A.T. team clears out a tenement building which was harboring the undead.
• The 1983 comedy Trading Places, Dan Aykroyd's character is detained and questioned by members of the PPD.
• The 1985 thriller Witness features Harrison Ford's character as a detective in the PPD who is hunted by corrupt members of the department.
• The PPD's Recruit Training Academy was featured in an episode of Da Ali G Show in which Ali G participates in several police training exercises.
• The police/drama series Cold Case involves detectives of the PPD.
• The 1990 action/comedy Downtown featuring Anthony Edwards and Forest Whitaker. Police officer Alex Kearney works in a rich plush Philadelphia suburb.
• The PPD is shown assisting members of the Baltimore Police Department on a 2002 episode of The Wire during the extradition and arrest of criminal Wee-Bey Brice.
• The PPD is featured in the series Badge of Honor written by W.E.B. Griffin.
• The PPD is also featured in the 2007 film Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg.

Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the undead. ... For the song by Schoolyard Heroes, see The Funeral Sciences Dawn of the Dead (also known as Zombi internationally) is a 1978 American independent zombie horror film. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... The word comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humor with an intent to provoke laughter in general). ... This article is about the 1983 movie. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Canadian/American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... This article is about the year. ... The thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television. ... Witness is a 1985 movie released by Paramount Pictures, starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, and Lukas Haas. ... For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ... Da Ali G Show was the name of two related satirical TV series starring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and featuring the character Ali G. The original (single season) series was made by Channel 4 in the UK, and the second (two season) series by Channel 4 in the UK... Ali G (Alistair Leslie Graham)1 is a satirical fictional character invented and played by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. ... For other uses, see Cold case (disambiguation). ... This article is about the American actor. ... Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, producer, and director. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... The Wire is an American television drama set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland. ... Information Aliases Wee-Bey Gender Male Age 30s (Incarcerated for Life without parole) Occupation Prisoner(Former Gang enforcer) Relationships DeLonda Brice (Baby Mama) Children Namond Brice Portrayed by Hassan Johnson Created by David Simon Roland Wee-Bey Brice is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire played... Shooter may refer to: Shooter (1988 film), a 1988 made-for-TV film. ... For the actor and television game show host, see Mark L. Walberg. ...

Call to Action: 10,000 Men

On September 12, 2007, police commissioner Sylvester Johnson, called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to lessen crime. Johnson, an African American has set up the program as a means of countering the city's disproportionate homicide rate of African American men. Dennis Muhammad, Nation of Islam official and Mayor John F. Street supported the project. Philadelphia is America's 6th biggest, with 1.5 million residents, (44%, blacks). The department has had 300 homicide this year in which 80% of the victims were African American. The "Call to Action: 10,000 Men, It's a New Day" program is to be initiated on October 21, 2007.^[2] is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Though most indigenous Africans possess relatively dark skin, they exhibit much variation in physical appearance. ... In military tactics, to patrol, or conduct a patrol, is to conduct reconnaissance of a designated area or route. ... Mike Skinner aka The Streets (born 27 November 1978) is a chav, a rapper and musician from Birmingham, England. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of the black men and women of America and the rest of the... An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organisation or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either his own or that of his superior and/or employer, public or legally private). ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... John Franklin Street (born October 15, 1943) is the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. ... A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a product or service[1]. // The word project comes from the Latin word projectum from projicere, to throw something forwards which in turn comes from pro-, which denotes something that precedes the action of the next part of the word in... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... // America usually means either: The Americas, the lands and regions of the Western hemisphere, often divided into North America and South America The United States of America. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Homicide (Latin homicidium, homo human being + caedere to cut, kill) refers to the act of killing another human being. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

See also

Philadelphia Portal

• Philadelphia Fire Department
• Philadelphia Highway Patrol

Liberty Bell; public domain. ... Department logo Philadelphia Fire Department is one of the oldest fire departments in the United States and provides fire fighting service within the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... The Philadelphia Highway Patrol is a specialized unit within the Philadelphia Police Department that shares a dual role as both the primary enforcers of traffic laws within the city and as a unique anti-crime task force. ...

References

1. ^ Agency Information, retrieved December 18, 2006
2. ^ Yahoo.com, Philly seeks 10,000 men to guard streets

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Philadelphia Police Department

• Philadelphia Police Department official website
• Honoring All Fallen Members of the Philadelphia Police Department
• History of City of Philadelphia and its Police Department