In an opinion piece, Temple criminologist Jerry Ratcliffe said that the Philadelphia Police Department's recently updated crime-fighting strategy — which decentralizes control and empowers local command staff — brings with it greater need for innovative, dedicated lieutenants and captains. But according to Ratcliffe, the department's ability to choose such leaders is hampered by its anachronistic promotion system that depends on an exam does little to consider experience, leadership ability or disciplinary history: "There is a dire need for an overhaul of the police promotion system to reflect modern practices."