October 7, 2004

Public Hearing on Bill 15-968 – “First Amendment Rights and Police Standards Act of 2004”

Charles H. Ramsey
Chief of Police
Metropolitan Police Department

Chief Charles H. Ramsey delivered the following statement to the Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on the Judiciary, the Honorable Kathy Patterson, Chair, on October 7, 2004, at the Council Chamber, John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

• Download* a printable version of the testimony

Madame Chair, members of the Committee, staff and guests – I appreciate the opportunity to present this opening statement for the record and, along with the other Metropolitan Police officials who are here today, to answer your questions. This statement only summarizes the Department’s response to the proposed legislation, and I want the Committee to know that we are preparing a more detailed analysis, with recommendations. For the benefit of the audience watching on Channel 13 and others, the text of my statement is posted on our Department’s website: mpdc.dc.gov.

Let me begin by once again acknowledging the work of the Committee on this issue. I respect the oversight role of this Committee and the scrutiny that comes with your role. Throughout this process, the Metropolitan Police Department has cooperated fully with the Committee and with your Special Counsel.

As I have stated on many occasions, the mission of the police involves much more than protecting life and property. The police also have the unique and solemn responsibility to uphold the very rights and freedoms that define us as Americans, in particular the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Our Department takes that responsibility very seriously. We work extremely hard to fulfill that responsibility each and every day. We regularly examine our policies and procedures in this area, and we constantly look for ways to improve our performance.

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