Occupy Underground

ellisonz

(27,759 posts) Mon Mar 19, 2012, 10:14 PM Mar 2012

Police: No arrest for retired captain in uniform controversy

Ray Lewis, a retired Philadelphia police captain, was across the street from City Hall Monday protesting threats made against him for wearing his old uniform at Occupy Wall Street demonstrations. (Robert Moran / Staff)

Posted: Mon, Mar. 19, 2012, 7:00 PM
By Robert Moran
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Ray Lewis, the retired Philadelphia police captain who became a hero to the Occupy Wall Street movement, will not face legal consequences for wearing his old uniform at protests, a Police Department spokesman said Monday.

"He will not be arrested," said Lt. Raymond Evers, spokesman for Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

"He's exercising his First Amendment rights, and we're fine with that," Evers said.

That position is in stark contrast to a letter Ramsey signed in November demanding that Lewis "immediately cease and desist" from wearing his old uniform in public.

More: Philadelphia Inquirer Story

Ray Lewis -

13 replies

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Highlight:

Police: No arrest for retired captain in uniform controversy (Original Post) ellisonz Mar 2012 OP

A hero. A genuine hero. MannyGoldstein Mar 2012 #1

It takes courage to annabanana Mar 2012 #2

Thankfully...a bit of good news, here! KoKo Mar 2012 #3

That's my kinda cop!!! U4ikLefty Mar 2012 #4

I think Philadelphia needs a new Police Commissioner.... Pachamama Mar 2012 #5

Ramsey's kind of an idiot. Chan790 Mar 2012 #6

Proud to K&R. n/t gkhouston Mar 2012 #7

Good to see at least one person in law enforcement.... ut oh Mar 2012 #8

Good news! I'm always surprised when something goes the way it should! Thanks for posting!! nt gateley Mar 2012 #9

I still respect the badge because of guys like Capt. Lewis. Not enough of them. leveymg Mar 2012 #10

That uniform is his personal property Alcibiades Mar 2012 #11

I saw him at the Occupy march on Wall Street. UnrepentantLiberal Mar 2012 #12

Feast Your Eyes People unionworks Mar 2012 #13

MannyGoldstein

(34,589 posts)

1. A hero. A genuine hero.

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Mon Mar 19, 2012, 10:20 PM

Mar 2012

We need more like him. And they will come.

annabanana

(52,791 posts)

2. It takes courage to

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Mon Mar 19, 2012, 10:35 PM

Mar 2012

walk the walk.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)

3. Thankfully...a bit of good news, here!

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Mon Mar 19, 2012, 10:44 PM

Mar 2012

Hopeful sign! Setting a precedent for the future if someone in uniform helps OWS out...?

U4ikLefty

(4,012 posts)

4. That's my kinda cop!!!

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Mon Mar 19, 2012, 11:21 PM

Mar 2012

Pachamama

(17,032 posts)

5. I think Philadelphia needs a new Police Commissioner....

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Mon Mar 19, 2012, 11:36 PM

Mar 2012

Commissioner Lewis....reporting for duty and the people of Philadelphia and Liberty and Justice!!!

Chan790

(20,176 posts)

6. Ramsey's kind of an idiot.

Reply to Pachamama (Reply #5)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 02:29 AM

Mar 2012

He already got ran out of DC for being grossly incompetent as police commissioner. Is Philly next?

gkhouston

(21,642 posts)

7. Proud to K&R. n/t

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 08:04 AM

Mar 2012

ut oh

(1,034 posts)

8. Good to see at least one person in law enforcement....

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 11:42 AM

Mar 2012

is on the right side of this issue...

now, if only other's in law enforcement would join the cause, we might not have so much police violence against OWS protesters.

gateley

(62,683 posts)

9. Good news! I'm always surprised when something goes the way it should! Thanks for posting!! nt

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 06:59 PM

Mar 2012

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

10. I still respect the badge because of guys like Capt. Lewis. Not enough of them.

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 09:03 PM

Mar 2012

Alcibiades

(5,061 posts)

11. That uniform is his personal property

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Tue Mar 20, 2012, 10:07 PM

Mar 2012

He did his service and earned it. For that matter, it's also perfectly legal for someone to dress in any uniform they want, because it's a free country.

If Neo-Nazis can parade around like jackasses, I think someone like Captain Lewis can wear the uniform he wore before he retired. It is a free country, or at least used to be.

UnrepentantLiberal

(11,700 posts)

12. I saw him at the Occupy march on Wall Street.

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 09:27 AM

Mar 2012

It looked so odd to seem right in the middle of the police violence. This is something you don't expect to see.

unionworks

(3,574 posts)

13. Feast Your Eyes People

Reply to ellisonz (Original post)

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 10:15 PM

Mar 2012

This is what the forgotten and discarded concept of "PROTECT AND SERVE" looks like in the living flesh.

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