Former Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, who also spent four years as county sheriff, was named on Oct. 4 as the next chief of the LAPD, taking over a department that will deal with major security issues in the coming years as the region hosts the Olympics, a Super Bowl and the World Cup.
Mayor Karen Bass made the announcement at a news conference at City Hall, selecting McDonnell from among three finalists for the job. McDonnell, also a former Long Beach Police Department chief, will replace Michel 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 leaders on public safety.”
She said that working with McDonnell, “together we will grow and strengthen LAPD,” and “will strengthen relationships with the community.”
Bass also expressed confidence in McDonnell to keep Los Angeles safe during upcoming major events — the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games — noting that after spending time in Paris during the recent Olympics, “the magnitude of what L.A. needs to prepare for us crystal clear to me.”
McDonnell also recognized that challenge, saying, “In the next five years, the eyes of the world will be upon us. Los Angeles will host the World Cup, it will host the Olympic and Paralympic games, it will host a Super Bowl and an NBA All-Star Game. Our department and our city will be showcased, and we will be prepared. What a great opportunity that is for all of us in L.A.”
McDonnell noted that he 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.
“… It’s a tremendous honor to lead the men and women of the LAPD. We will work hard to make sure that you are supported with your work to be able to keep all Angelenos safe.”
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.”
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.”
Some observers had anticipated that Bass would select either a woman or a Latino to fill the chief’s office — both would be firsts. But in the end she opted for McDonnell, who is white. But Bass defended her selection, saying public safety was her top priority.
“Our city has a lot of work to do to prepared to welcome the world,” Bass said. “To me, what is most important, as I said from the beginning, is to keep this city safe. We needed and I feel very confident in one of the top law enforcement professionals in our country who was willing to come back to the department and lead us in a time when the department internally needs to be transformed, the city needs to feel safe and we need to prepare to welcome the world. And I feel very strongly and confident in that decision.
“My whole life has been about inclusion. And one thing that I do very deliberately and very assertively is to make sure that there is representation everywhere. I think there is work that needs to be done in the LAPD. I have spent the last few months visiting almost every station and meeting with officers. There’s a lot that needs to be done. I will continue to pay attention to representation, particularly with the Latino population, which we know is half of the city of Los Angeles.”
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.
He previously served as the president for several organizations such as the Major County Sheriffs of America, the California Peace Officers’ Association, and the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs’ Association. McDonnell also served a board member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Peace Officers’ Association of Los Angeles county, among other groups.
L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian called Bass’ decision an “excellent choice for a multitude of reasons,” citing McDonnell’s 40 years of experience.
“We can trust him to restore morale, revitalize our recruiting efforts, and prepare our city for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Krekorian said. “In just four years, the eyes of the world will be on Los Angeles, and Jim McDonnell is the right leader to ensure that we are ready to shine on the global stage.”
Following Bass’ announcement, the Los Angeles Police Protective League Board of Directors, the union representing the LAPD’s rank-and-file, 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.”
