Mending broken trust: Police and the communities they serve | Charles Ramsey | TEDxPhiladelphia

To understand troubled relations between police and many communities today, we must first understand the national and global history of policing and acknowledge that law enforcement has not always stood on the right side of justice. In this candid talk informed by his 48-year career in law enforcement, former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says law enforcement needs to shift its perceived mission from one of enforcing the law to one of protecting the rights of all. When the latter becomes the priority, communities experience not just safer and more secure neighborhoods but the presence of justice. And the thin blue line that allegedly separates good from evil instead becomes a strong thread woven throughout the community, helping to hold together the very fabric of democracy.
Retired Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey spent his 48-year law-enforcement career developing policing strategies, evidence-based initiatives, organizational accountability and neighborhood-based programs, while leading organizational change in police departments. As president of Major Cities Chiefs, Ramsey created the Leadership Executive Institute to help prepare police chiefs of the future. Working with the Anti Defamation League and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, he led the creation of “Law Enforcement & Society: Lessons from the Holocaust.” More than 90,000 local, state and federal law enforcement personnel have viewed the program. With the The National Constitution Center, he developed a program for law enforcement that focuses on the role of policing in a complex democratic society. And he was co-chair of President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which sought ways to strengthen police community relations across the country.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@CrimsonRaven51]

I was a Chicago Police Cadet with Charles Ramsey back in 1968. He was a go getter back then. I left in 1971 to enlist in the Army. I eventually became a Federal Law Enforcement Officer with State Department and surprisingly met with Charles again in 1999 when he was Chief Of Police for Washington, D.C. Metro Police. Great reunion. Look at him now. He never quits.

[@neemteem2764]

I am impressed with his speech. He kept his cop mind, but reached into the truth of the matter. Mutual Respect.

[@alexislanciani3584]

i agree

[@chrismorring3352]

Neem Teem yeah my jaw dropped LoL

[@joaniebayhack423]

I absolutely love Officer Ramsey's story about dignity...

[@topgurl9313]

We need more cops like him in the US and across the world PLEASE

[@RicanNY7]

This is great, I like his speech. Definitely gave me a bit of hope that there's a right direction to handling this broken trust.

[@McSnacks930]

This man did a great job in DC, training police to be friends and not foes of citizens

[@akimali]

I thought he did a great job too....but if I remember correctly, a LOT of cops that served under him didn't like his leadership style. They felt that he was putting too much blame on them (like in this speech where he's saying that cops are at fault too).

[@richarduebele1576]

Wow ! It's so refreshing to hear a guy like this with his experience speaking about these vital issues facing our society. Spread the good word !

[@SubvertTheState]

I wish we had a police force full of guys like this... and serving for 40 years.

[@yesidvl]

I love the honesty this man brings

[@meekaa2812]

This right here!!! Everything about this resonated with me on so many levels!!

[@wyatt9144]

I have a lot of respect for police chiefs, especially people who are not afraid to step into this kind of conversation. It is surprising how adept he is at thinking out these problems, even for his age. People like Commissioner Ramsey and former LMPD Chief Erika Shields have my utmost respect.

[@DarrylsB]

he needs to be the chair of the task force making policy changes going forward, because what we have now is NOT working. And end for-profit prisons.

[@Cubelarooso]

He was.

[@bradcrosier1332]

…and police unions.

[@douglasroach8079]

Ending the "War On Drugs" is a great place to start. Let officers chase violent criminals.

[@muna5066]

The War on Drugs is the single worst thing for minority communities because it is only used to increase the enforcement of minority communities

[@paulandry886]

same bad guys

[@baniget7068]

Well informed police chief ,,, hard to find and hard to come across chiefs like Mr. Ramsey ....

[@alansilvestri2375]

Felt like I was listening to my Dad....great job!

[@elizabethbranch4154]

This is a great talk. It has oened my eyes.

[@elizabethbranch4154]

Much respect for these types of talks. It has really opened my eyes and helped me.

[@gennadenos6190]

The most important take away from his speech is that he explains why some communities have a mistrust of the police, and he does not cover the law, but he incriminates some actions that took place back in police history. Charles Ramsey explains that authorities and citizens do not have the best relationships in the United States only but also globally. He also explains well that police have to change some strategies for the way they handle things for the community to start trusting the police again and develop new ideas that will make policing much more comfortable and more helpful to the people.

[@oldones59]

Mr. Ramsey shared a great message. Guardian mentality, not warrior mentality. That could apply to many situations, not just being a police officer. ✌

[@jackfrost6902]

The blue wall of silence is the real issue.

[@SHAULYISRAEL]

That "Blue Wall of Silence" is gradually eroding due to the tireless efforts of our Governors, the Brothers and Sisters of the FBI and the SBI and responsible and activist oriented citizens whom are courageous enough to hold the POPO and the SherPOPO accountable.

[@SubvertTheState]

@robert howard we're talking about police accountability, i don't know why you keep misspelling liberal and democrat but this is an issue about our liberties as Americans. Has nothing to do with "libtards", which is a term that automatically shuts me off to anything else you have to say.

[@SubvertTheState]

@robert howard I'm willing to listen to any point of view. I just get ticked off with closed mindedness or people who pretend to have all of the answers. I know i don't but i try to have somewhat balanced opinions. Ive just noticed alot of people defending unconstitutional actions by police in the name of "law and order". I just value personal liberties more than others. Thanks for at least being civil.

[@gameshowguy2000]

So in other words, it's not a liberal or conservative issue, or a Democratic or Republican issue. But it still affects all, no matter who or what you are.

[@jordainebrown6487]

Awesome speech

[@chickensandwich8808]

I wish it still surprised me how toxic YT comments sections are when trying to take in the individual experience/wisdom of a speaker. You don't have to agree with him but at least understand he is one of many and all have different perspectives that add to a whole. The only thing that could make his message "meaningless" is those who are meant to listen choose not to. Even if you disagree look into it and engage meaningfully in a discussion rather than mud slinging.

[@mariannebonner2280]

I really wish Chuck Ramsey was still our Police Commissioner in Philadelphia.

[@jenniferpollard2732]

Years ago at McGill University, social psychologist Donald Taylor made similar comments about immigrant communities and the police vis a vis people not wanting to report crime because of historic fear of police. These immigrants included those from Eastern Europe who had suffered under totalitarian regimes.

[@petarsron]

I feel for law inforcment..i currently work in mental health services, You can clearly see that most of the time police are dealong with meatally sick people that need help rather than a gun drawn apon them. I live in Adelaide Soth australia we do not have nowhere near the issues that parts of america endure . Is it culture? is it over population? is it lack of jobs? i feel the issues are much deeper than blaming law enforcement? I feel on a deeper level these issues have in some ways formed a us and them mentality

[@thesurvivorssanctuary6561]

Yeah, I was homeless for two years, and police do nothing to help the homeless. Their job is to make life harder for mentally ill people, and that's a literal fact. You can dress it up all you like, but homeless shelters and police policy regarding the homeless were designed to put homeless people: "out of sight and out of mind". If someone thinks these institutions are meant to help the homeless, then they've clearly never been homeless.

[@kevinpoole4323]

Philadelphia We Miss you Sir.

[@marif319]

The policing you are talking about if implemented would turn the world in to haven but unfortunately police don't give the respect which the community deserves from police officers. however we hope the policing you are talking about would one prevail mainly due to the endeavor being made by you and like minded police officers.

[@Jim_The_Fish]

I’m here because of Long Island Audit.

[@Aname-hk4bu]

How can you mend when you don’t know the difference between truth and derogatory language?

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

good speech

[@chrismorring3352]

Budget cuts killed community policing.

[@thesacredibis6723]

The public servant must never become greater than his master. Otherwise, he will abuse his power and diminish dignity and respect.

[@JacobAndJamal]

Very good speech.

[@stevegilliland2302]

We not only want that kind of policing that you speak about, it’s our constitutional right! Receipts need training and then follow up training to make sure I understand that they honor the constitution over any local laws or policies. Until this is done it will always be an adversarial relationship. And I think you have to police the whole city all the time without concentrating where you say all of the clock crime is. Has it ever occurred to the police that The crime rate is probably up because the police think they’re cleaning up the neighborhood so they violate peoples rights and then that’s booked as a crime so they will always have the highest crime rates. Remember, uphold the constitution and always treat people with respect.

[@rusbus499]

At 9 minutes it gets real. To defend the constitutional rights of all people...

[@bradcrosier1332]

Too bad he seems to be the only cop who grasps this.

[@thedreadpirateron5369]

​@@bradcrosier1332 no people like you just make it hard for police to want to help since you're all miserable

[@runneryg]

Good Speech.

[@andrewallen9993]

How to mend broken trust? How about for six months the cops do not kill an unarmed civilian. And cops that do kill unarmed civilians get prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[@Aaron-qt4wo]

This was 4 years ago!! Its only gotten WORSE!! What has anyone done to change things. Talks and ideas are great. Put them into action!!

[@vinniemascaro6649]

Crime has always and will always be the problem as the numbers of facts so state

[@sadcatlotr]

Blech. What a gestapo. As "community oriented policing" goes its way out, his comments on "dignity" serve as a helpful hint towards the next policy regime as to what to attack first

[@7032rt]

cheif Ramsey should train police chiefs

[@JohnSmith-hs1hn]

We always talk about the police;we never talk about the civilian.

[@alexislanciani3584]

did you even watch the talk?

[@carichar87]

15:48 19:38 ... Yes, lol I'm taking notes for myself as I attempt to embark on a career in law enforcement.

[@sonial8940]

47 years of service great but no results

[@bradmccoy7996]

Law enforcement is unjust, all about self, lost in sin, pride rules there character, no fear of God literally.

[@barnwell5471]

Did you listen to the speech?

[@solomonwalker9303]

Interesting but completely incorrect, if you have a subjective mission statement you open the door for police pursuing personal interpretations of the constitution, multiple departments have refused to enforce lawful gun control measures because of personal interpretations of the 2nd amendment. The mission statement of a police service needs to be completely objective

[@MrGlowhound]

Fix corruption from the top down, bad foundations cause failure of the entire structure.

[@redtruck3020]

Police officer always text me posted. Need to respect they will listen the two year old without a tantrum.

[@Ms_Kymm]

It's so hard to listen to this fairytale... after experiencing & having my mental health affected, by the policing being done here in 2019!!

[@luckyhaskins69]

agreed!!!! its a fairytale. the only concern the police have for the constitution is how to dodge it..

[@luckyhaskins69]

Mama mysterious- My family has also become victims of police corruption and human rights violations,and yes, It is very hard to cope mentally when you become labeled as a "criminal" by criminals.......it is now 2019 and all human decency has left the criminal justice system 100% ...rehabilitation is desperately needed. Good luck with your recovery.......I think it is time to start programs ( like Alcoholics anonymous does) for victims of abuse of power...we should hold our meetings at the courthouse,in the Lobby....I bet it would be packed.....I say this for real because there is no one to talk to..Once they create "fake paper" on you they have stolen your voice....It is a desperate situation this country is in, and the police still will not admit that anything is wrong........cuz they make over 100k a year.........the paycheck blurs the vision

[@luckyhaskins69]

josephine. agreed. by design... they know who to hire

[@clarenceboddiker9559]

@Josephine Tracy Lolol... 3 low IQ losers.

[@luckyhaskins69]

yes trust in communities is important....to all communities- DO NOT trust the police -period....protect your family/s and communities by stopping this corruption.Biggest threat to your family is the cops...hands down

[@clarenceboddiker9559]

Lol... Ok crackhead

[@rogerfournier3284]

THE CAPITAL OF AMERICA STARTED IN PHILADELPHIA, NOT WASHINGTON D.C.()

[@blksheepdogtonyg.6453]

👏👀

[@johnnybravo2116]

Let’s call the police bosses from the shittiest most violent cities to give TedTalks.

[@bulletinboardoflife]

s t i l l r e l e v a n t in 2020 duh

[@bradmccoy7996]

Sin is your problem.

[@DrcJr77]

Let's make it simple and easy to understand. Not enough COOL Cops. When you encounter a cop that is actually doing his Job, we all say "He was a cool cop". The problem is, there is not enough cool cops. Public will always say we need more cool cops. If and when you get pulled over for a code violation, your likely to get an over worked, stressed out, hungry, gotta pee, and numb officer to give you a ticket that automatically thinks the worse because he/she ( heard it all ). This is not protecting the public's rights and not up holding the law. Code is not law. Just like in many jobs, over time we tend to forget our job

[@redtruck3020]

I like the medication that’s what I get a sword fights with that

[@quhawks48]

This pseudo panacea that ‘trust’ will decrease crime is frustrating and so annoying. Acknowledge that criminals exist EVERYWHERE. Trust cops to arrest criminals.

[@markaja2]

Trust is the foundation of all relationships, even financial ones. I trust a bank to not spend the money in my checking account on shoes. I trust an employer to pay me for working. I trust that ~70%-90% of individuals are reasonably trying to be a good person, and 4 out of 5 of the ones that aren't trying would try if their issues were addressed.

[@demetrius7266]

Here's an idea and I'm just throwing this out there. Revise the training for police and sheriff cadets, and quit electing assholes who treat the citizens like a fine funded slush fund.

[@johnnybravo2116]

I can hear people snoring in the crowd. How many times is he going to say communities?

[@brookwest]

Gotta give it to him he stood up there and said a lot. At the same time said nothing because the only way to stop this nonsense is punishment. Send these bad cops straight to jail.

[@larrysmith1568]

It would help if cops showed respect for citizens.

[@virginialopez9938]

Jimmy who killed Dave...

[@desireemaldonado187]

Eh

[@ameirenterprises2669]

Too late--too late--too late. Too many animals wearing the blue.

[@donnatate6327]

That ring on his finger???

[@luckyhaskins69]

masonic ring....it signifies that he is in the club and is far above the law

[@arleciawhite7510]

It's 2021, and policing has gotten worse.

[@johnnybravo2116]

Crime is terrible in all of the cities he managed. Experience doesn’t matter when your results are horrible.

[@judyfauth208]

The neat battle perplexingly check because lace coherently decorate towards a clear journey. cloistered, plucky music

[@youtubeisawebsite7484]

for sure

[@andrewewels3054]

When will police start upholding and applying the Bill of Rights? Policing today are on the road to gestapo fascism.

[@kinggomi6429]

I think officers should have their constitutional rights stripped when they put on that police badge and when they take it off at the end of the day and go home they get all their constitutional rights back they're not allowed to use their police influence outside of work hours or it's jail time and also I think every single Police officer let's say an average pay for police officer is like around 40 to 80,000 a year I think that should go down to least like 6 does it matter where you live every officer should only be getting paid six grand

[@stevebirdman1496]

Pointless speech. Community this community that with no specifics. Trained politician who is disconnected from the streets. Retire and move along.

[@aowatson1]

Who ran the gulags? Did cops participate in central African genocides? Mao's regime cops? Amazing to have never thought through this and think it was secondaries schools duty to spoon feed you.

[@claycopopo]

Well ... that didn't take too long. ONLY three minutes and 53 seconds to bring up slavery ....

[@alexislanciani3584]

If it has to do with policing, isn't it relevant? why does it matter

[@johnconnors6412]

Alexis Lanciani it doesnt

[@bizchats4250]

Clay, slavery is apart of American history. So get comfortable with it being brought up if you are speaking of so-called Blacks or some kind of American history.

[@luckyhaskins69]

lmao...yep...i am suprised he made it that far...lmfao

[@Nawazaahr]

I thought it was the Dead Giveaway guy. Disappointed.

[@allcamefrom2111]

So onesided and misleading despite your credentials sir

[@rippedtorn2310]

Not just history but present day too. US is a right-wing hierarchy in the extreme . Americans for the most part have no idea how they are oppressed , just try talking about Universal Healthcare if you dont believe me .

[@blattimus]

No, really their first priority is enforcing the law, big brain. I wonder why Ted fell completely off the map of relevancy.

[@mahershakhtur4600]

Well said