Incoming Mayor Jim Kenney announced his choice for the next Police Commissioner today.

First Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross will get the promotion after Commissioner Charles Ramsey said he will be retiring at the end of Mayor Nutter’s term in January.

Ross joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1989. From 2005 to 2008 he served as Deputy Police Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Gun Control Strategies. Since then, he has been First Deputy Commissioner.

Kenney introduced Ross at a press conference today.

“It is my total and complete honor to introduce a person who is not only a stellar law enforcement professional, but a stellar person, and a stellar Philadelphian,” the next Mayor stated. “I’m very, very proud to introduce our next police commissioner Richard Ross.”

“I think my favorite part is we’re just two regular guys,” Ross said of Kenney. “That’s who we are and we’re not ashamed to acknowledge that. We’re from far ends of the city but I think we’re very much alike, just come from humble beings and beginnings. I’m very happy to be able to work alongside him and his team in this city. We’re just two people who love this city.”

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my boss Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who is arguably the biggest name in the business right now,” he continued. “He’s been a friend and mentor to me and he’s done some heavy lifting for this department, and this city. We are grateful to have had him and his service and I am thankful to have served under him for the last eight years.”

“This is more about passing the baton,” Ross concluded. “This is things that we’ve done successfully, we’ve had a modicum of success with, it’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s just about building upon it and making the city a safer and better place.”