In 2007, they were all just promises on the campaign trail.

But so far in 2008, they're really happening - including now a dramatic restructuring of the chain of command at Philly's Roundhouse unveiled yesterday by new Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

Even some grizzled veterans of the force were giving a positive review of eight new top deputy assignments and a split of the department into two units - in part because all the new posts were filled by Philadelphia officers.

Several cops - some of whom were affected by Ramsey's reorganization plan - said they felt Ramsey evaluated the Police Department like an executive at a private company and made strategic decisions. "Let's face it, in some ways, they're changes we needed," one cop said.

To most average Philadelphians, though, the top-brass shake-up is largely inside baseball. Most care about seeing more uniformed cops on the streets and fewer killings, and here Ramsey also delivered some good news.

He said that 248 additional cops are walking the streets since he took office earlier this year with the new administration of Mayor Nutter, who stood by Ramsey's side during the announcement.

"Everything in the Police Department is in support of patrol," said Ramsey as he explained that about 100 rookie cops as well as more formerly deskbound officers have been shifted onto the street. "Patrol is the backbone of the Police Department."

Ramsey assigned officers from former specialized units, the Strategic Intervention Tactical Enforcement Team, or SITE unit, and the Narcotics Strike Force, to street patrol.

His initial crime plan released in January promised a 25 percent drop in the murder rate and 200 more officers on the street by May 1. So far this year, homicide is down 24 percent citywide, shooting victims down 25 percent and gun seizures up 3.5 percent

In announcing the shake-up yesterday, Nutter and Ramsey were essentially delivering on a pledge made late last year when Ramsey - viewed as a reformer during his recent stint as top cop in Washington, D.C. - was named to the job.

Under the new system, said Ramsey, there will be more accountability.

"He eliminated the bureaucracy that clouded the Police Department," said one police source. "It made the chain of command simpler. Now people can move up to one person instead of left and right."

Critical to the shake-up is dividing the department into two units.