LAPD Chief McDonnell Optimistic After Call With Mayor-Elect Raman
The chief says their post-election conversation was positive, though Raman had pledged to replace him during the mayoral race.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell expressed optimism about his future with the department following a phone call with Mayor-elect Nithya Raman. The conversation occurred after the November 3 election, during which Raman defeated incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. McDonnell described the exchange as upbeat and focused on shared goals.
The prospect of McDonnell leaving the force became a central theme of the mayoral campaign. Raman, who represents Council District 4, had openly campaigned on the promise to replace the chief. During the October mayoral debate, she stated, “I want to replace the police chief,” adding that she believed McDonnell had lost the trust of residents. However, she acknowledged that the mayor does not have sole authority to remove the chief.
McDonnell joined the LAPD in 1981 and was sworn in as chief by Mayor Bass in November 2024. Before his current role, he served as chief of police in Long Beach and as the Los Angeles County Sheriff. His tenure has coincided with a sustained drop in crime across the city. As of October, the murder rate was down 15 percent compared to the previous year. Burglaries fell by 26 percent, and serious assaults decreased by more than 3 percent. The overall crime rate dropped by more than 9 percent year-over-year.
The relationship between Raman and McDonnell was further tested during the campaign when a video surfaced online. The clip showed Raman repeating a tagline about stopping fascist liars while images of McDonnell and Bass appeared on screen. Raman’s campaign shared the video but later removed it, explaining that the images were added by a content creator. The campaign clarified that Raman was referring to federal immigration policies, not the LAPD, though the Los Angeles Police Protective League criticized the incident.
Under the city charter, removing the police chief involves a process beyond the mayor’s office. The five-member police commission must have a say, or the city council can act through a separate procedure. Commissioners are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. McDonnell told reporters that the commission has maintained a good relationship with him, though he declined to speculate on their future feelings. Commissioners at a Tuesday meeting declined to speak with reporters about the potential transition.
Asked if Raman has requested his resignation, McDonnell said no. He noted that campaign rhetoric often differs from administrative reality once a candidate takes office. He also said that officers are adopting a wait-and-see attitude regarding the leadership change but expressed his own optimism about the department’s direction. Raman became the first candidate to unseat an incumbent mayor since Antonio Villaraigosa defeated Jim Hahn in 2005, ending Bass’s record of never losing an election for public office.
