Police commanders from across the nation – including former Los Angeles Police Department Chief Bill Bratton – are rallying around the current top cop in Los Angeles after he came under attack by Councilmember Nithya Raman. Jim McDonnell has been the LAPD’s Chief since late 2024.
“Chief McDonnell, my friend and colleague for over 40 years, including the seven years we worked closely together at the LAPD, has been in the face of significant adversity and hostility from the Progressive Left,” Bratton posted on X in recent days. “He has been doing an outstanding job leading the much reduced in size LAPD as it has faced continuous crises over the last several years.”
Manpower on the LAPD is at its lowest levels in decades, even as LA28 is preparing to bring swarms of athletes and tourists into the city. “Replacing him before the end of his term would create additional crises of monumental proportions,” Bratton wrote.
Campaign officials for Mayor Karen Bass have seized on what she has called her opponent’s “flip flop” on McDonnell in a statement. In recent days, the campaign put out a statement that linked to an LA Mag tweet Bass referenced as the “infamous “fascist liars” Instagram video.”
“This is yet another example of Nithya Raman having no core beliefs and telling people what they want to hear to advance her political career,” said Bass campaign spokesperson Alex Stack. “It’s not leadership, and it’s not what LA needs in its mayor.”
Former NYPD Chief Terrence Monahan also took to social media to praise McDonnell, who is the son of Irish immigrants who settled in the Boston area. “Chief McDonnell is one of if not the best current leader in law enforcement nationwide,” Monahan wrote.
This year the Los Angeles City Council approved a $15-billion city budget for 2026–27 that supports the mayor’s goal of plan to hiring 510 new LAPD officers, aiming for a total force of 8,555 officers by June 2027.
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