Charles H. Ramsey
Chief of Police
Metropolitan Police Department

Chief Charles H. Ramsey delivered the following statement during opening session of the "Policing for Prevention Summit," sponsored by the US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The summit was held September 5-7 at the World Bank, 2121 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

"Good morning.

On behalf of our Mayor, Anthony Williams, our Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, Margret Kellems, and especially the 4,400 men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department - I would like to welcome you to this conference and to our city. The District of Columbia is very excited and very pleased to be hosting this event. And we are committed to making your stay with us both enjoyable and memorable.

I want to salute all the staff — from the International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, from my own agency, and from our partners in this conference — for putting together such an ambitious and forward-thinking agenda. I look forward to listening to, and learning from, all of you, as we work together on new ways to make the theory of "prevention" a reality in our police departments and in our communities.

If you will indulge me in just a quick advertisement for our city, the District of Columbia.

I know that we have a full agenda over the next three days. But I do hope that all of you find the time to get out and discover - or in some cases, re-discover — the remarkable history and culture that Washington, DC is famous for.

I also hope that you can get out and explore some of our many diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, and, of course, sample some of our magnificent restaurants, theatres and other entertainment venues. The District of Columbia is certainly a city steeped in history and tradition, but we are also a modern city that is truly world-class.

If there is anything the Metropolitan Police Department can do to make your stay with us more productive or enjoyable, please do not hesitate to call upon us. And if there is any aspect of our Department that you would like to examine while you are here, please notify any of our staff members.

This summit comes at a time of great challenges — and also tremendous opportunities — for public safety officials around the globe. I know it's cliché, but the reality is that, with advances in communications and science, our world is "getting smaller." This is particularly the case when it comes to policing.