By Shannon McDonald

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey visited St. Jerome’s in Holme Circle this morning to thank the 8th graders for their support of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Ramsey shook the students’ hands and gave them certificates of appreciation after he addressed the entire school in the church. The 8th grade class is making pocket rosaries for every Philadelphia police officer, a project that began in November 2007 after Officer Chuck Cassidy of St. Jerome’s parish was killed on duty.

To date, the students have made almost 4,000 rosaries, which leaves them with nearly 3,000 to go before all of the city’s officers have one. Once the project is completed, the students will begin making rosaries for firefighters.

Image courtesy of St. Jerome Parish.