Police Commissioner Ramsey’s 60,000 reasons to remain

After weeks of speculation and wooing from another major city, he surprised nearly everyone and chose Philadelphia for less money.

That was Cliff Lee’s surprise story. Change “less money” to “more money” and the story becomes Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey’s.

Yesterday, Ramsey shocked even fellow top City Hall officials by announcing he would stay instead of applying for the superintendent position in Chicago — his native city and the place where he started his career. In turn, his salary will increase from $195,000 to $255,000, which Mayor Michael Nutter offered as a condition of him staying.

“As a result of our conversations and the experiences I’ve had in Philadelphia … I’ve elected to stay right here in Philadelphia,” Ramsey said. “There was no decision I had to make any harder than the one I made now.”

Ramsey called the Chicago position a “dream job” and said “I was totally prepared to go,” but said a talented command staff and a show of support from the business community helped change his mind.

Councilwoman Donna Reed-Miller, chair of Council’s Committee on Public Safety, described him as “an absolute police professional.”