Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Tuesday, August 8, 1978
Add to My HeroesJames J. Ramp
Police Officer James Ramp was shot and killed during a standoff with a radical group known as MOVE.
A shootout resulted when Officer Ramp and several other officers tried to evict 12 adults and 11 children from their headquarters at 33rd and Pearl Streets. Officer Ramp was shot from the MOVE house while pushing someone else out of the line of fire. Four other officers, five firefighters, and three bystanders were also shot and wounded. All 12 adults were taken into custody.
Nine of the 12 were convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 30 to 100 years in prison. One died in prison on March 17th, 1998. Seven of the eight remaining subjects were paroled by 2020.
Officer Ramp had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 23 years and had previously served with the United States Marine Corps; he survived combat in both World War II and Korea.
He was survived by his wife and is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Bio
- Age 52
- Tour 23 years
- Badge 2989
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Rifle
- Offender Sentenced to 30 to 100 years
Most Recent Reflection
View all 45 ReflectionsI had the honor of serving with Officer Ramp while we both attended training at the FBI academy in Quetico VA. The training was for Marine Reservists who were also active Duty Police Officers. Jimmy of course with the Philadelphia Police Dept, and I was a Homicide Detective with the Portland Or. PD. There were about 30 in the group.
Jim and I truly hit it off and maintained a relationship until his death. I was able to attend his Services and met his wife and son.
He was a true professional in every sense of the word, and as a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the Marine Corps, always teaching, looking out for those around him and always setting an example! It is with great frequency that I think of him, his sacrifice, and what all police face, still today!
Semper Fi!
Detective David W. Simpson. (Ret)
Portland Police Bureau
August 21, 2020
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