Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who was appointed by former Mayor Karen Bass in November 2024, sat down with NBC Los Angeles after the November 3 mayoral election to discuss his outlook for the department under the incoming administration.
Positive Conversation with the Mayor‑Elect
McDonnell said Mayor‑elect Nithya Raman, who defeated Bass in a race that highlighted the future of the city’s police leadership, called him shortly after Election Day. “We had a conversation and it was upbeat,” McDonnell told NBCLA. “It was positive and we talked about mutual goals, so I am hopeful.”
When asked whether Raman had asked him to resign, McDonnell replied, “No. The people have spoken and as part of the democratic process, people say a lot of things during campaigns. The objective is different than it is once you get into the seat.”
City Charter Limits on Removing a Chief
Under Los Angeles’ charter, the five‑member police commission—or the city council through a separate process—must be involved in any decision to remove a police chief. Commissioners are appointed to five‑year terms by the mayor and confirmed by the council. McDonnell declined to speculate on the commission’s feelings, noting that he has maintained a “very good relationship” with them.
NBCLA requested interviews with the commissioners at their Tuesday meeting, but they declined to comment.
Crime Trends Support Department Record
McDonnell highlighted recent public‑safety data to defend his record. As of October, the city’s murder rate is down 15 % compared with the previous year, continuing a multi‑year decline. Burglaries have fallen 26 % from last‑year levels, and serious assaults are down more than 3 %. Overall crime is down over 9 % compared with the same time last year, marking generationally low levels for Los Angeles.
These statistics, McDonnell said, reflect both effective policing strategies and improved morale within the department.
Background on Chief McDonnell
Chief McDonnell brings more than 40 years of law‑enforcement experience. He joined the LAPD in 1981, later served as chief of police in Long Beach and as the Los Angeles County Sheriff before returning to the LAPD, where he was sworn in by Mayor Bass in November 2024.
Mayor‑Elect Raman’s Campaign and Controversy
Raman, endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America‑LA, has been vocal about disagreements with the chief. During the campaign, a social‑media video showed Raman repeating the phrase “Only you can stop fascist liars,” with images of McDonnell and Bass added by a content creator. Raman’s campaign later removed the video and said the tagline was intended for ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration policies, not for the chief or the police department.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank‑and‑file officers, criticized the video. When asked if officers might leave the department under a new mayor, McDonnell said, “No, you know, I think everybody has got a kind of wait‑and‑see attitude, but I’m optimistic.”
Election Results Context
Raman led Bass by double digits in the final vote count, becoming the first candidate to unseat an incumbent mayor since Antonio Villaraigosa defeated Jim Hahn in the 2005 election. Bass had never lost an election for public office during her career in Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Washington, D.C.
As the city transitions to new leadership, Chief McDonnell’s emphasis on collaboration and the department’s recent crime‑reduction achievements set a hopeful tone for public safety in Los Angeles.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
