Memorandum of Understanding
Partners
Staff Office: One Thomas Circle, N.W., Suite 900, Washington,
DC 20005 (202) 504-3400
For Immediate Release, April 2, 1998
Contact: Jim Davison, (202) 504-3400
Statement of Stephen D. Harlan, Chairman, MOU Partners
I am very pleased that Charles Ramsey has been selected as the new Police Chief
Designee of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington D.C.
Currently, the Deputy Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department,
Mr. Ramsey has a successful career in fighting crime. He builds trust and confidence
within the community at large and throughout all levels of the Police Department. I am
confident that Mr. Ramsey will lead MPD on a course toward greater professionalism and
continued crime reduction.
The selection of Mr. Ramsey came as a result of a nationwide search. We
sought him out--he did not initially apply. In September 1996, I first met Mr. Ramsey
during a visit to Chicago to examine firsthand the great progress Chicago had made in
Community Policing. On February 3, 1998, we learned that Mr. Ramsey might be available for
the job. The Chief Management Officer, Dr. Camille Cates Barnett, and I flew to Chicago
and met with Mr. Ramsey. During that meeting we strongly encouraged him to apply for the
District of Columbia Police Chief position. We had to persuade him that Washington D.C.
was ready for his brand of leadership and that we would do everything we could to support
him, should he be selected.
The search resulted in fifty applicants, many of whom were among the
very best police leaders in the United States. After an intensive process, the MOU
Partners selected two finalists this week: Mr. Ramsey and Acting Chief Proctor.
Chief Proctor has done an excellent job as Acting Chief, and she
has had an outstanding career in the Metropolitan Police Department. It was not an easy
choice, and Acting Chief Proctor should be proud as we are that she was one of the two
finalists.
We are counting on Acting Chief Proctor to remain with MPD in order to
work with Mr. Ramsey to accomplish the reforms that are so necessary within MPD.
Congratulations, Mr. Ramsey, and I look forward to working with you. |
