Wave Staff and Wire Reports
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — The appointment of former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as the 59th police chief of the Los Angeles Police Department was met with mixed reactions among activists in South Los Angeles.
McDonnell, who was an assistant chief with the LAPD before being named police chief in Long Beach in 2010 and then being elected sheriff in 2014, was named Oct. 4 by Mayor Karen Bass to replace Michel Moore as LAPD chief.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, called Bass’ selection of McDonnell “the smart pick.”
Hutchinson said that as sheriff, McDonnell made a real effort to eliminate racist deputies, curb the use of deadly force and implement tough discipline for misconduct. He said the challenge for McDonnell would be to implement the same tough policies on discipline, deadly force and officer misconduct within the LAPD.
On the other side of the spectrum was Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles, which called McDonnell’s appointment “an absolute betrayal of the people and a stark contradiction to the progressive values Mayor Karen Bass claims to uphold.”
A statement issued by Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles also said “of the list of finalists, McDonnell is by far the most problematic, with a long history of anti-Black and anti-immigrant policies which led to him being voted out as Los Angeles County sheriff.”
Pending approval by the City Council, McDonnell will replace Moore, who retired in February. Dominic Choi has been serving as interim chief.
The Los Angeles Police Commission submitted three candidates for police chief to Bass in August — McDonnell, LAPD Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides and former Assistant Chief Robert “Bobby” Arcos, who has been working with District Attorney George Gascón’s office as head of investigations.
Bass called McDonnell “one of America’s finest police professionals” and a “nationally recognized thought leader on public safety.”
She said that working with McDonnell, “together we will grow and strengthen LAPD,” and “will strengthen relationships with the community.”
McDonnell began his law enforcement career at the LAPD police academy 43 years ago, and said “standing before you here today is a dream realized.”
“I love this city and I understand the modern-day challenges our officers face in trying to protect it,” he said. “To our LAPD officers, I thank you. You answer the call. You perform your duties with dignity, and you hold each other to the highest professional standards.
He said his goals were enhancing public safety in the city, “to grow our department back to full strength,” and “to strengthen public trust, the foundation of all we do,” and develop community relationships, while ensuring “respectful and constitutional policing practices.”
City Councilman Tim McOsker, who has led efforts to reform the LAPD’s disciplinary process, praised McDonnell.
“Appointing a chief of police is one of the most important decisions a mayor can make, and Jim McDonnell’s dedication and integrity make him an excellent person to lead this department forward,” McOsker said.
County Supervisor Hilda Solis also praised his selection. Solis said, “Having worked alongside McDonnell during his tenure as sheriff of Los Angeles County, I can attest to his commitment to public safety and community engagement.”
The Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors, the union representing the LAPD’s rank-and-file, also hailed McDonnell.
“We have every confidence in Chief McDonnell’s ability to hit the ground running to improve public safety in Los Angeles and to appoint an upper command staff that will do away with the status quo and turn a new page for the LAPD,” the Board of Directors said in a statement. “We pledge our support to Mayor Bass and Chief McDonnell to improve our department, and now it’s time to get to work.”
Two members of the South Los Angeles clergy also were supportive of McDonnell.
The Rev. K.W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference, said “Chief McDonnell has a long history partnering and serving South Los Angeles dating back to working with Black churches to keep congregations safe from bomb threats in the 90s. We know Chief McDonnell. We’ve worked together before to make Los Angeles safer and I look forward to working together again.”
Charles Blake II of West Angeles Church of God in Christ added: “We applaud Mayor Bass’ appointment of Jim McDonnell as the new chief of the LAPD in her efforts to balance crime prevention, community trust and mutual accountability.
“It is our hope that Chief McDonnell’s desire to ensure respectful and constitutional policing practices in all that the department does will go far in strengthening the necessary relationship between the Police Department and the community it is sworn to serve.”
Lawrence Toliver, the owner of a popular South L.A. barbershop, said “The selection of Jim McDonnell as police chief was an outstanding selection due to his commitment, dedication, honesty and expertise will make him a positive influence on all communities of Los Angeles.”
An executive recruiting firm was hired by City Hall to search for candidates months ago. The Police Commission announced in August at the end of a special meeting it submitted the names of three finalists to the mayor’s office.
Police Commission President Erroll Southers said he spoke to many people during the search process, and the common themes he heard relating to McDonnell were that he was “honest, seasoned and a man of integrity.”
McDonnell served with the LAPD for 29 years, and held several ranks leading up to first assistant chief of police before he retired in 2010 to lead the Long Beach Police Department, where he served for almost five years.
In 2014, McDonnell was elected as the 32nd sheriff of Los Angeles County, but lost his bid for reelection in 2018 to Alex Villanueva.
McDonnell’s appointment still has to be confirmed by the City Council, which is expected to consider the appointment next week.
