Mayor Karen Bass swore in the city’s new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Jim McDonnell, at a morning ceremony Thursday, Nov. 14 at Elysian Park Academy near downtown as his wife Kathy looked on — and even adjusted his chief’s hat. He becomes the 59th chief of the LAPD.
At the academy north of downtown Los Angeles elected officials and dignitaries witnessed as McDonnell’s wife pinned the chief’s badge onto him. Following a standing ovation, McDonnell laid out his priorities for his first 90 days as new leader of the third-largest law-enforcement in the nation.
“As chief of police, I stand ready to work with you to face our challenges head on and to move forward together with courage, compassion and a clear vision as we embark on this new chapter,” McDonnell said.
“I’m committed to strengthening public confidence in the LAPD through community based innovative policing that prioritizes the needs and concerns of our residents. Our focus will be on building trust through transparency, accountability and a commitment to every voice in every neighborhood,” he added.
As chief, his first 90 days will focus on listening, evaluating and planning, he noted. McDonnell is expected to meet with various stakeholders for this “listening period,” which he says will shape the department’s priorities and refine its approach to public safety.
His priorities as chief will be to address violent and property crimes by forming specialized teams to tailor responses for specific needs of communities; maintain a state of the department that “champions” accountability, transparency and continuous improvement; assist vulnerable populations such as unhoused Angelenos and the city’s youth; preparing for major events coming to the region; and the responsible implementation of technology for public safety.
“Today, I stand here, not only as chief of police, but as a fellow Angeleno. We’re a city of dreamers, of resilience and of strength,” McDonnell said. “Every corner of Los Angeles tells a story, and every story is worth protection.”
Mayor Bass described the celebration as a “new and exciting day for public safety” for Los Angeles.
She touted McDonnell’s leadership experience — as a 29-year veteran of LAPD, and held several ranks leading up to first assistant chief of police before he left in 2010 to lead the Long Beach Police Department, where he served for almost five years. In 2014, L.A. County voters elected him as the sheriff.
“I know we will be prepared for the World Cup, the Olympics and everything that is ahead of us,” Bass said.
McDonnell, 65, will take charge of a force of nearly 9,000 officers. He is succeeding former chief Michel Moore, who retired in February. Interim Chief Dominic Choi, who had been leading the LAPD since March, is expected to become one of three assistant chiefs.
The mayor took a moment to recognize Choi for his “steady leadership” over the last six months, as well as the Board of Police Commissioners and City Council.
Following the ceremony, asked by reporters about whether LAPD will be involved in federal immigration sweeps/deportations, McDonnell said:
“I know that there is a lot of fear in many of our communities relative to comments made about immigration enforcement. The LAPD’s role is very clear. We do not engage in immigration enforcement. We’re there for everybody in all of our communities.”
He started the job last week following a vote by the Los Angeles City Council, 11-2, supporting the mayor’s choice. Afterward he was formally sworn in at a private ceremony in City Hall. Before the ceremony, the City Council approved McDonnell’s base salary of $450,000, sought by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.
That is down from the board’s initial proposal of $507,509, but his salary is significantly higher than that of former chief Moore, who made a base salary of $391,268 in 2023.
Council members Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez opposed his confirmation, citing concerns from the immigrant community regarding McDonnell’s past policies as Los Angeles County sheriff from 2014 to 2018, when he allowed federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into the county jails.
Council members Heather Hutt and Kevin de León were absent during that vote.
McDonnell promised that the LAPD will “not work with ICE on immigration enforcement issues at all” under his leadership.
He also said the LAPD’s policies are in compliance with state Senate Bill 54 — which established California as a sanctuary state — and the California Values Act, which took effect in 2018 and prevents state law enforcement agencies from using resources on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies.
According to Bass’ office, in 2013, before McDonnell’s appointment as county sheriff, that department released 7,842 inmates to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After he took office, the figure dropped to 820, representing a decrease of 90%.
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“Los Angeles is a city of immigrants, and I trust Jim McDonnell to keep our city safe,” Bass said in an earlier statement. “He has the skill set and the compassion to build trust with every community and I know he is committed to doing so.”
McDonnell — a veteran of the department who served for 29 years, and held several ranks leading up to first assistant chief of police before he left in 2010 to lead the Long Beach Police Department, where he served for almost five years.
He was among three finalists for the job, along with LAPD Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides and former Assistant Chief Robert Arcos, who has been working with outgoing District Attorney George Gascón’s office as head of investigations.
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