New top cop for Philly schools
Complete coverage of the Philadelphia School District by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Kristen Graham.
New top cop for Philly schools
Kristen Graham
There's a new top cop in the Philadelphia School District.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Cynthia Dorsey took over as the district's Chief Safety Officer effective Monday. She replaces Chief Inspector Myron Patterson, another city police officer.
The shakeup is part of a series of moves made last week by Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey. Patterson now heads one of the city's two Regional Operations Command centers.
Dorsey, a Philadelphia native and graduate of Girls' High and Temple University, is no stranger to school policing. A 28-year veteran of the police force, she once spent time as a captain overseeing school policing operations in West and Southwest Philadelphia.
She's still transitioning into the job, Dorsey said in an interview, but her focus is clear: "Schools should be a safe haven, where kids can learn. They should also be a safe place for administrators and teachers."
Dorsey is apparently the district's first female safety chief.
More to come in tomorrow's Inquirer.
During the school year, you’ll frequently find her hosting live chats about the district on Philly.com. Please do pass along the scoop about what’s going on at your Philadelphia public school; Kristen welcomes tips, story ideas and witty banter at kgraham@phillynews.com or 215-854-5146.
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter here.
