LA Mayoral Candidate Raman Renews Attack on LAPD Chief McDonnell, Again Declining to Name a Replacement
Los Angeles mayoral candidate and City Councilmember Nithya Raman renewed her criticism of LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell in an ABC7 interview that aired October 27, again saying she would remove him if elected while again declining to name any possible replacement, the New York Post reported.
"I believe that this police chief has lost the trust of our immigrant community here in LA," Raman said. She argued that LAPD staffing and costs have moved in the wrong direction, saying the city is "paying half a billion dollars more for 1,500 fewer officers than we were before." She said former LAPD Chief Bernard Parks supports her campaign and that she has spoken with public-safety advisers.
Pressed on a replacement and on whether a new chief would be chosen before the 2028 Olympics, Raman said the process would require a search and partnerships with the Police Commission and City Council. "It's too important of a decision to set an arbitrary timeline or to make a decision before I've had a chance to talk to all the key stakeholders," she said. "I will ensure that whoever we pick to be our next LAPD chief will keep us safe." She said the next chief should be transparent and accountable, deliver public-safety results, maintain hiring and keep immigrants safe in the city.
McDonnell was appointed by Mayor Karen Bass in 2024. Raman had pledged to replace him if elected, but her timeline shifted in interviews earlier this month, and a since-deleted campaign video showing the chief's photo crossed out drew criticism, as GSM reported on October 12.
Related:
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：洛杉矶市议员、市长候选人尼蒂亚·拉曼官方肖像（2022年）。图片：公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Official portrait of Los Angeles Councilmember and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman (2022). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
