Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell says he is not preparing to leave his post just yet.
McDonnell told NBCLA he is “hopeful” he can remain chief under Mayor-elect Nithya Raman, despite her campaign promise to replace him.
The embattled chief struck an upbeat tone in his first interview since the Nov. 3 election. He said Raman contacted him for a phone conversation after defeating his political ally, former Mayor Karen Bass.
“We had a conversation and it was upbeat,” McDonnell told the outlet. “It was positive and we talked about mutual goals, and so I am hopeful.”
Asked whether Raman had asked him to resign, McDonnell gave a direct, one-word response: “No.”
The cordial exchange represented a notable change in tone after a bruising campaign that made McDonnell’s future a major political issue. Still, a friendly phone call does not determine whether Raman will honor her pledge to install a new LAPD chief.
McDonnell said the demands of governing may create a different relationship than the one seen on the campaign trail.
“The people have spoken and as part of the democratic process,” he said. “People say a lot of things during campaigns. The objective is different than it is once you get into the seat.”
Raman’s election also does not give her sole authority to remove the police chief.
Under the city charter, the five-member Board of Police Commissioners has the power to dismiss McDonnell before his term ends. The City Council has another avenue, but it would need a two-thirds vote to begin removal proceedings and a second two-thirds vote following a public hearing.
As a result, McDonnell’s relationship with the civilian oversight board will face renewed attention as Los Angeles prepares for a new administration.
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“You know, I won’t speculate as to their feelings, but my thoughts are that we’ve had a very good relationship,” he told NBCLA.
McDonnell also defended his record as chief, citing declining crime and what he characterized as improved morale within the department. Asked whether officers were considering leaving under Raman, he said they were waiting to see what happens while emphasizing his own confidence.
His conciliatory comments came after a much more contentious period before Election Day, when Raman accused the LAPD of sharing information with federal immigration authorities and damaging the trust of immigrant communities.
“There have been reports, credible reports, that LAPD has actually shared information with ICE, including information from our fingerprint databases and through Flock cameras,” Raman previously told ABC7.
McDonnell denied the allegations and said LAPD officers do not carry out immigration enforcement.
“We work very closely with all of our federal partners, but we don’t work with any of them on immigration enforcement. It’s as easy as that,” he told the outlet.
He also defended the department’s handling of fingerprints taken during arrests, explaining that the records are sent to the California Department of Justice and then shared with a national federal database.
Bass supported McDonnell during the campaign and cautioned that replacing him ahead of the 2028 Olympics could create a challenging leadership transition before the major international event.
With Raman now set to take over as mayor, McDonnell is arguing that the two can work together.
Whether that optimism will extend his tenure as LAPD chief remains uncertain.