Police Officer James J. Ramp, aged 52, was shot and killed on August 8, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Officer Ramp was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served in both World War II and the Korean War. He had a distinguished 23-year career with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Officer Ramp's death occurred during a standoff with a radical group known as MOVE.
The incident began when police attempted to evict 12 adults and 11 children from the MOVE headquarters at 33rd and Pearl Streets. During the shootout, Officer Ramp was shot while trying to push someone else out of the line of fire. Four other officers, five firefighters, and three bystanders were also shot and wounded.
Following the incident, all 12 adults were taken into custody. Nine of them were convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 30 to 100 years in prison. Two of the convicted individuals died in prison in 1998, and the remaining subjects were paroled by 2020.
Officer Ramp was survived by his wife and son, and he is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The tragic circumstances of his death, particularly the fact that he was shot as a result of friendly fire, have been remembered and honored by his fellow officers and the community.
