Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey is currently permitted to appoint only two of his deputies, and he says this change would give him more flexibility:
"Mayor Nutter gave me the responsibility of revamping the police department, putting it in a better condition to fight crime. I want to do that. It would be of immense help to be able to choose my top senior team."
And, he points out, he could pick up to four deputies from outside the city.
The unions that represent police and firefighters, and other city unions, oppose the charter change on several grounds, including that it opens the door for abuses like patronage in high-paying, powerful positions, and could stifle promotions from within.