Gregore J. Sambor

Gregore J. Sambor
Commissioner of the
Philadelphia Police Department
In office
1984 – November 1985
Preceded by Morton B. Solomon
Succeeded by Robert F. Armstrong (interim)
Personal details
Born 1928

Gregore J. Sambor was an American police commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department from 1984 to 1985. He is most known for his role in the 1985 bombing of MOVE, which he classified as a terrorist organization.[1]

1985 MOVE bombing

On May 13, 1985, nearly 500 police officers moved in to execute arrest warrants on MOVE's members.[2] Police commissioner Sambor read a long speech to the members of the organization. When they didn't respond, police moved in to forcibly remove them from the premises, leading to an armed standoff.[3] After the police used over ten thousand rounds of ammunition, Sambor ordered the compound be bombed.[4] Two bombs were dropped on a bunker-like cubicle on the roof of the building, which ignited the fuel of a gasoline-powered generator there. Firefighters stood by and allowed the resulting fire to destroy 65 houses, having been ordered by Sambor to let the fire burn. Ramona Africa, the only adult survivor, reported that police shot at anyone attempting to escape the fire.[5] In the end, 11 people including 5 children were killed in the blaze and 250 citizens were left homeless.[6]

Sambor resigned as police commissioner in November of that year, believing he was being made a "surrogate" by Mayor W. Wilson Goode.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Shapiro, Michael J (June 17, 2010). The Time of the City: Politics, Philosophy and Genre. Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 9781136977879.
  2. ↑ Demby, Gene (May 13, 2015). "I'm from Philly 30 years later I'm still trying to make sense of the MOVE bombing". Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  3. ↑ Account of 1985 incident from USA Today.
  4. ↑ Stevens, William K. (14 May 1985). "Police Drop Bomb on Radicals' Home in Philadelphia". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "Philadelphia MOVE Bombing Still Haunts Survivors". NPR. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  6. ↑ Terry, Don (1996-06-25). "Philadelphia Held Liable For Firebomb Fatal to 11". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  7. ↑ I Was Expendable, Sambor Learned After Move Fiasco
Police appointments
Preceded by
Morton B. Solomon		 Commissioner of Philadelphia Police Department
1984–1985		 Succeeded by
Robert F. Armstrong (interim)
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