Ramsey lands gig in Wilmington

Well, so much for fishing trips and relaxing at the beach.

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams announced Monday that former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has been hired as a public safety consultant.

Williams' spokeswoman, Alexandra Coppadge, said Ramsey's contract will last for seven months, and pay him up to $16,000 a month.

Ramsey will meet regularly with Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings, and work "hands on with the police department on a weekly basis," Coppadge said. He will not, however, be required to submit a formal report when the contract ends.

"Commissioner Ramsey has been recognized as one of our nation's leading public safety officials, and is regarded as being at the forefront of modern day policing," Williams said in a news release. "As the Wilmington Police Department continues to attack violent crime, I am honored to partner with the commissioner in this effort, as he will provide invaluable expertise and knowledge in this area."

Leaders in Wilmington, Delaware's largest municipality, have argued the city isn't nearly as dangerous or crime plagued as its nickname, "Murder Town," suggests.

Ramsey, 65, announced in October that he intended to retire after Jim Kenney was sworn in as mayor. But he noted at the time that he hoped to have an "impact nationally" in law enforcement.

There was some speculation in December that Ramsey would return to his hometown of Chicago to run its police department, but he insisted that he was more interested in finding work as a consultant.