Neal Picked to Replace Williams as Police Head in Philadelphia

Richard Neal, a veteran of 30 years on the city’s police force and the head of the department’s patrol bureau, was named police commissioner Thursday by Mayor Edward Rendell.

Neal, 52, succeeds Willie L. Williams, who left in June to become chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

“He is a beat cop, first, last and always.” Rendell said. “He is a stable, calm leader. He is decisive and will make the department better than it is.”

Neal said he was honored.

“Philadelphia is a great Police Department that has continually been on the cutting edge fighting crime and servicing the community,” he said. “We’re going to improve on community policing,” an approach that Williams instituted.

The commissioner earns $80,750 a year and supervises about 7,400 officers and civilian employees.

Neal began his law enforcement career as a patrolman in 1962. He has worked in community relations, as commander of the 19th Police District, as head of internal affairs and as interim chief of the city Housing Police. He has been chief of the Patrol Bureau since June.

Neal, who is black, was endorsed for commissioner in May by the 1,500-member Guardian Civic League, an association of black police officers.

At a press conference Thursday in Los Angeles, Williams praised his successor, calling him “an outstanding choice.” Williams said Neal had been part of his transition team when he was Philadelphia police commissioner.

Williams credited Neal with revamping the department’s internal affairs division, and said he was committed to advancing community-based policing.