Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday the appointment of former L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as the new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The decision, shared during a morning news conference at City Hall, comes following the retirement of former LAPD Chief Michel Moore, who served in the role since 2018 and stepped down earlier this year.
When announcing his appointment, Bass emphasized that McDonnell “understands the complexity of Los Angeles.”
“Today, we are making sure that Los Angeles has the right leader in place to build toward the future of public safety, reduce crime and make L.A. safer by growing and strengthening community relations,” said Bass. “Chief McDonald is a leader, an innovator, and a change maker, and that’s what we need in L.A.”
McDonnell has a deep-rooted history in law enforcement. He served 28 years in the LAPD and was L.A. County Sheriff from 2014 to 2018. McDonnell has also held the position of police chief in Long Beach and most recently served as the USC Price School’s Safe Communities Institute Director.
McDonnell said he intends to “strengthen public trust” in the city and ensure that LAPD officers rebuild trust in the communities they serve.
“In simplest terms, my goals are to enhance public safety, to grow our department back to full strength through a solid recruitment and retention campaign, to strengthen public trust, and to develop community relationships further,” said McDonnell during Friday’s news conference. “This is a time of great challenge but a time of tremendous opportunity.”
In early September, Bass told the Los Angeles Times she intended to finalize the appointment with a 15-page report outlining the selection process and highlighting key challenges facing the department, such as public safety concerns, policing in diverse communities and issues related to officer morale.
With McDonnell’s appointment, Bass passed on two other finalists who could’ve marked a historic moment: one with the potential to become LAPD’s first female chief and the other the first Latino chief.
At the press conference, Bass addressed the issue of increasing representation on the police force, stating that “a lot needs to be done,” particularly in boosting Latino visibility in department leadership.
L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents Eastside communities in District 1, released a statement applauding Bass’s decision.
“Having worked alongside Chief McDonnell during his tenure as Sheriff of Los Angeles County, I can attest to his commitment to public safety and community engagement,” she said. “I look forward to supporting Chief McDonnell as he embarks on this important role, ensuring that Angelenos are safe and that their voices are heard.”