Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

He was also survived by a son, James Ramp, Jr. The last perp was paroled in 2020.

https://northeasttimes.com/2013/10/31/fop-dedicates-21-plaques-at-union-hall/

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/last-member-of-move-freed-on-parole-in-death-of-philadelphia-officer.html

Kenneth H. Ryesky Esq.
{Former IRS agent}

February 11, 2023

Please note that this is part of the write up on this incident on "Today in History" on the internet today (5/13/2021):
"The roots of the 1985 incident date back to 1978 when a confrontation between MOVE and the police left Officer James Ramp dead. Several innocent MOVE members were convicted of murder, enraging other members. Leader John Africa began a counterattack on Christmas Eve, 1983."
"INNOCENT"! Can you believe that lie is being sold to us by The History Channel?

James Benard Barber, Proud US Citizen
Former resident of Philadelphia.

May 13, 2021

So sad, surviving war but getting killed by accidental "friendly fire".

Private citizen

April 26, 2021

No Rank January, 2021-Exactly my thoughts. Paroled by January, 2021? Seriously ? Officer Ramp dies saving someone's life due to scumbags. They get paroled?

Maureen Walls
Former Philadelphia citizen

March 13, 2021

I want to say a lot about this as everyone does , Officer Ramp was shot and killed in the line of duty after months of provocation by members of the MOVE organization . Officer Ramp died when I was 16 years old . Why are MOVE members allowed to be with family members when officer Ramp can never do that

no rank
none

January 20, 2021

I had the honor of serving with Officer Ramp while we both attended training at the FBI academy in Quetico VA. The training was for Marine Reservists who were also active Duty Police Officers. Jimmy of course with the Philadelphia Police Dept, and I was a Homicide Detective with the Portland Or. PD. There were about 30 in the group.
Jim and I truly hit it off and maintained a relationship until his death. I was able to attend his Services and met his wife and son.
He was a true professional in every sense of the word, and as a Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the Marine Corps, always teaching, looking out for those around him and always setting an example! It is with great frequency that I think of him, his sacrifice, and what all police face, still today!
Semper Fi!

Detective David W. Simpson. (Ret)
Portland Police Bureau

August 21, 2020

Rest in peace

None Nick Mottola
None

August 8, 2020

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

August 8, 2020

I served with Officer James Ramp at 3rd BN 14th Marines 4th MARDIV I remember him being upset with me after I received a Meritorious promotion then changing my MOS that moved me from his area. Great man Great Marine I will never forget him

SSGT USMCR Joseph DIDOMENIC
USMCR

January 19, 2020

A few years before his death he served as an assistant instructor to the Philadelphia Young Marines detachment at that time based at the Northeast Reserve Base which became the Philadelphia Police Academy ironically many years later.

Officer Ramp provided marksmanship training to us and really helped me with qualifying for the detachment's competitive rifle team along with the active duty Marines serving at the reserve center.

He was an excellent instructor and modest about his service in the Marine Corps and the dangers he faced on the Philadelphia Stakeout squad. A role model former Marine and police officer.

Charles Robinson
Young Marines Instructor/Student

September 13, 2019

Wow! What an awesome narrative of heroism and selfless courage. I applaud Officer Ramp's service to his city, his state and this great nation. Obviously he stood tall when confronting the perpetrators and gunfire to protect his fellow officers. Any Marine who survived combat in WWII and Korea also has exceptional credibility as a warrior who did far more than his share to preserve the values of our great country--but as noted in the posts he obviously loved kids, his fellow officers and his family as well. It is sad he had to fall to so-called fellow Americans who took their citizenship/privileges for granted. On behalf of Nevada law enforcement and as a former paratrooper I thank you Officer Ramp for honoring our profession and protecting this great nation as a United States Marine.

James Lopey, Assistant Sheriff (Ret)
Washoe County Sheriff's Office (Reno, Nevada)
Nevada DPS

August 8, 2019

Jim Ramp was a member of the instructor cadre of my childhood Young Marines group. He was a kind, warm-hearted and professional police officer, a Marine's Marine, and one of the finest men I ever knew. He was a role model on a par with my Dad, and still is.

Barry E. McClung, FF/EMTP(Ret)
Friend

August 8, 2018

Remembered and respected always. RIP

#1285
PPD Stakeout Unit/SWAT 1986-2001

June 22, 2018

Never forgotten by those who remember that tragic day. God Bless Officer James Ramp and his family.

Jim McKinley
Philadelphia Citizen (age 14 at time of event)

June 20, 2018

So sad and no justice. Philadelphia's DA pushed for one of the killers to be released. As of today, miss africa was paroled. Im soo sorry for this officers family and pray they stay positive, even though it will be hard. This officer will always be remembered as a hero who lost his life protecting the city that he loved.

Lance
Philadelphia pd

June 20, 2018

So sad and no justice. Philadelphia's DA pushed for one of the killers to be released. As of today, miss africa was paroled. Im soo sorry for this officers family and pray they stay positive, even though it will be hard. This officer will always be remembered as a hero who lost his life protecting the city that he loved.

Lance
Philadelphia pd

June 19, 2018

Gunnery Sergeant Jimmy Ramp was a real positive in our USMC Reserve Battalion (3rd Bn, 14th Marines). Semper Fi!

Capt Bill Odle
USMC

May 22, 2016

My husband was another police officer on duty in Powelton Village that day. I was in grad school at Temple U. It was a terrifying morning. KYW News told that a police officer was murdered but withheld the namr until the widow could be notified. It was several nerve-wracking hours before my husband was able to call and tell me he was safe. (Remember, cell phones were still 2 decades away.)

My heart still aches for Mrs. Ramp, who lost her beloved husband so suddenly and wrongly.

Dorine Houston
Widow of a police officer present for both 1978 and 1985 confrontation

May 15, 2015

I remember that day. I was a kid. Many of my neighbors were Phila. police officers. I was so sad to hear of your passing. I felt, and still do feel so badly for your family.MOVE were scum and cowards, hiding as they shot. You were SO brave. Never forgotten. RIP.

M.W.
Philadelphia native

March 19, 2015

One did die in prison - William Phillips Africa died in prison on Jan. 10, 2015. While he was in prison his son, Philip Delmar, was killed in the May 13, 1985 MOVE siege in Cobbs Creek area. He was serving 30-100 years for the shootout in which Officer Ramp died. He was married to Jeanene Phillips Africa (all MOVE members have that same surname) who is also serving 30-100 for the same incident at 33rd & Pearl in Powelton Village in Philadelphia on August 8, 1978. RIP officer.

Doug Easterly, private citizen
I currently work three blocks away now

January 15, 2015

I was 12 when the first MOVE confrontation happened. My parents had friends who were in the police department; they were on vacation with us in Sea Isle, NJ, but were called back to the city on that dark day. God bless Officer Ramp; may he be remembered always.

John Higgins

July 24, 2014

God bless you Sir! Thank you for your honorable service to your country and for making the ultimate sacrifice to a grateful city. You are not forgotten nor will you ever be. You live on in the memories of all those who served with you, and will always be in the hearts and minds of all who knew you. What you did in life does echo through eternity! Semper Fi, Sir!

Retired Detective Warren Lockley
NYPD

May 19, 2014

I HOPE THE MURDERING SCUM DIE IN PRISON.

CAPT QUID
USAF

May 13, 2014

Uncle Jimmy was my Godfather. As a young boy, I remember all of Marine get-togethers especially between my Dad, Uncle Jimmy, and Uncles Mike and Bob, all of whom served together in the Corps. I guess it was all of that upbringing which led me to join the Marines and serve in Vietnam. You are a true HERO in every sense of the word and embodied what Courage and Bravery stand for. You and Helen rest peacefully together and will never be forgotten.

Phil Tomachio, Jr.
Sgt., USMC (formerly)

June 12, 2013

I am 49 years old and working on a Masters Degree studying conflict resolution. We studied the story of MOVE and it took me back to growing up in Philadelphia. Officer Ramp was a hero of mine when I was about 9 or 10 years old and in the Young Marines that met at the USMC reserve center on Woodhaven road. I just wanted to honor his service and thank him for devoting his time and energy. God bless you Officer Ramp

Chief Petty Officer Molina USN RET

March 13, 2013