Gregore J. Sambor

Gregore J. Sambor (February 22, 1928 - September 15, 2015) was an American Police Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department from 1984 to 1985. He served for 35 years in the United States Military and earned many awards in marksmanship. He is most known for his role in the 1985 bombing of MOVE, in which six adults and five children died after he told firefighters to stand down and "let the fire burn".[1] Sambor argued the group was a terrorist organization.[2]

Gregore J. Sambor
Commissioner of the
Philadelphia Police Department
In office
1984 – November 1985
Preceded byMorton B. Solomon
Succeeded byRobert F. Armstrong (interim)
Personal details
Born(1928-02-22)February 22, 1928
DiedSeptember 15, 2015(2015-09-15) (aged 87)
SpouseMary Sambor
ChildrenGregore Sambor, Glenn Sambor, Nicholas Sambor, Marie Sambor
OccupationPolice Officer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1949–1984
RankLieutenant General
Battles/warsKorean War
Vietnam War

1985 MOVE bombing

On May 13, 1985, nearly 500 police officers moved in to execute arrest warrants on MOVE's members.[3] 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.[4] After the police used over ten thousand rounds of ammunition, Sambor ordered the compound be breached.[5] Two breaching charges made from an FBI-supplied explosive were dropped on the roof of the building, which ignited the fuel of a gasoline-powered generator there. Ramona Africa, the only adult survivor, reported that police shot at anyone attempting to escape the fire.[6] In the end, 11 MOVE members, including five children, were killed in the blaze and 250 civilians were left homeless.[7]

Sambor resigned as police commissioner in November of that year of his own decision, although advised not to by family and friends. Believing he was being made a "surrogate" by Mayor W. Wilson Goode, he did not wish to remain in the environment.[8]

References
  1. Demby, Gene. "30 Years Later, I'm Still Trying To Make Sense Of The MOVE Bombing". NPR. NPR. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  2. Shapiro, Michael J (June 17, 2010). The Time of the City: Politics, Philosophy and Genre. Routledge. p. 108. ISBN 9781136977879.
  3. 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.
  4. Account of 1985 incident from USA Today.
  5. 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.
  6. "Philadelphia MOVE Bombing Still Haunts Survivors". NPR. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  7. Terry, Don (1996-06-25). "Philadelphia Held Liable For Firebomb Fatal to 11". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  8. I Was Expendable, Sambor Learned After Move Fiasco
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