New LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell was sworn in. Amid President-elect Donald Trump’s call for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, McDonnell said the LAPD will not engage in immigration enforcement.
The swearing-in ceremony for the 59th Chief of the LAPD took place at the LAPD Academy at 8 a.m. on November 14 and was attended by a number of key figures in LA, including LA Mayor Karen Bass, LA City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA County District Attorney-elect Nathan Hochman, and hundreds of current and former LAPD officers, including former Chief Dominic Choi and Michel Moore.
“During my first 90 days in office, I will set priorities and refine my approach to policing,” McDonnell said in his inaugural address, ”specifically, I will create specialized units for violent and property crimes and support vulnerable populations, including the homeless and youth.”
McDonnell also noted that he will focus on addressing the LAPD’s officer shortage and preparing for major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.
In a question-and-answer session with reporters, McDonnell made it clear that the LAPD will not be involved in immigration enforcement, saying, “We will not be working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce immigration laws.”
In the past, McDonnell, as Sheriff of the LA County Sheriff’s Department, allowed ICE agents into LA County jails, essentially allowing them to enforce immigration laws. His turnaround at the helm of the LAPD could be attributed to the public sentiment in the city and the wake of the presidential election.
At his confirmation hearing before the LA City Council on November 8, McDonnell recognized that public opinion of him was not in his favor. McDonnell was heckled by members of immigrant advocacy organizations in the audience at the hearing.
Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez (Council District 1) and Hugo Soto-Martinez (Council District 13) opposed McDonnell’s confirmation, citing his history of immigrant enforcement.
Furthermore, after the city of Los Angeles declared itself a “sanctuary city” and vowed to protect immigrants, it is seemingly inevitable that the LAPD follow suit.
On the other hand, some have criticized McDonnell’s comments about taking a hands-off approach to immigration enforcement, claiming that the LAPD is turning a blind eye to the problem of illegal immigrants.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM, HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
