Chief Jim
Photos courtesy Mayor’s Office, Club staff
Jim McDonnell, former First Assistant Chief of the LAPD and Sheriff of Los Angeles County, was nominated by Mayor Karen Bass Oct. 4 to become the LAPD’s 59th Chief of Police.
He has spent more than 40 years in policing and is a longtime Club Member.
His nomination now must be approved by the City Council.
“How wonderful it is to have Jim McDonnell back home as City of Los Angeles Chief of Police,” said Rita Robinson, Retired General Manager of LADOT; Retired Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Public Works, Los Angeles County; and current Board Member of the Los Angeles City Insurance Services (The Club). “Throughout my leadership appointments in the City and County, Jim played an important role as teacher, mentor, motivator and friend. He always had a listening ear, sound counsel and a wink and smile of assurance. With so much the City has to deal with and so much to prepare for, I know Chief McDonnell will effectively lead and the police force and citizens will follow. Congratulations and Godspeed, my friend!”
“Congratulations, Chief Jim McDonnell, on your appointment as the new LAPD Chief!” said Arlene Herrero, the Club’s Vice President of Business Development. “Your leadership, dedication and commitment to service have always been an inspiration. I’m confident that under your guidance, the LAPD will continue to thrive and strengthen its bond with the community.
“Wishing you great success in this important role, and I look forward to our continuing friendship and collaboration in the years to come.”
“Chief McDonnell is a leader, an innovator, and a change maker, and I am looking forward to working with him to grow and strengthen LAPD, deepen relationships with communities across the city, and make sure that Los Angeles is vigilant and prepared for anything that comes our way,” said Mayor Bass in her nomination remarks.
“I began the LAPD Academy 43 years ago,” Chief McDonnell said. “I love this City – and I understand the modern-day challenges our Officers face in working to protect it. It is a tremendous honor to lead the men and women of the LAPD. I will work hard to make sure their work to keep Angelenos safe is supported. Mayor Bass’s efforts on public safety reflect thoughtful, compassionate, and solution-oriented approaches to policing. I greatly appreciate her confidence in me and I look forward to working closely with her to make Los Angeles a safer city.”
Chief McDonnell said that his goals are to:
- Enhance public safety;
- Grow LAPD back to full strength through recruitment and retention;
- Strengthen public trust;
- Further develop community relationships;
- Ensure respectful and constitutional policing practices; and
- Prepare LAPD and our partners for the challenges ahead.
Chief McDonnell is set to replace Chief Michel Moore, who retired earlier this year; and Dominic Choi, who served on an interim basis since then
