Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass names former sheriff Jim McDonnell as new LAPD chief

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has named former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell the new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Bass and McDonnell both named addressing public safety concerns in LA and preparing for the city's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2028 as some of their major goals as the former sheriff takes the helm. He said he's hoping to "strengthen public trust" in Los Angeles and to ensure the LAPD's officers engage in "respectful and constitutional policing practices in all that we do."

While McDonnell hasn't worked at the LAPD in years, he started his law enforcement career there and spent 29 years with the law enforcement agency. Bass said part of why she appointed him is because he "understands the complexity of Los Angeles," despite interviewing potential candidates from across the U.S.

"I think there's work that needs to be done within the LAPD," Bass said Friday, naming LAPD's relationship with LA's Latino population as a crucial concern given the size of the community in LA.

In early September, Bass told the Los Angeles Times she intended to make a decision on the hire by the end of the month, and about two weeks later, her office released a 15-page report on the selection process.

The report included input from civil rights advocates, business owners, faith leaders and officers, and cited concerns over public safety, policing of diverse communities and struggles with officer morale as some of the key challenges facing the department. 

Bass has released few details to the public about where the selection process stands and who could potentially be appointed. 

Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi had been at the helm since former Chief Michel Moore retired earlier this year.

Check back for updates to this developing story.