Residents of Los Angeles finally know their next chief of police.
In a news conference scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, mayor Karen Bass is expected to name the new chief of the L.A. Police Department. The hire is thought to be one of the crucial events of Bass’ first term in office.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the pick was expected to be Jim McDonnell, former Los Angeles County Sheriff and LAPD assistant chief. McDonnell was elected sheriff in 2014 before losing to Alex Villanueva in a 2018 reelection bid.
McDonnell has previously served as the chief of the Long Beach Police Department.
The announcement comes after a search spanning several months. The vacancy opened after Chief Michael Moore’s surprise retirement earlier this year. Moore, who served in the role from 2018 until this February, took on challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and protests stemming from the death of George Floyd.
In March, Assistant Chief Dominic H. Choi was unanimously appointed by the civilian Board of Police Commissioners to serve as interim chief of the LAPD. From the beginning of his brief term, Choi never sought out the full-time role of chief.
Choi, LAPD’s first-ever Asian-American chief, took on challenges such as growing concerns over theft and smash-and-grab crimes throughout L.A.
