Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman is offering conflicting signals about her plans for the LAPD after previously vowing to remove the city’s current police chief if she wins office.
In an interview with ABC 7, Raman, a socialist City Council member, said replacing Chief Jim McDonnell would not be an immediate priority if she defeats incumbent Mayor Karen Bass.
“You know, replacing the chief of police is not on my 100-day agenda. Restoring trust with our law enforcement and the public is on my 100-day agenda,” Raman said. She added that McDonnell had not “met the moment.”
Asked about Bass’ warning that removing McDonnell just 18 months before the 2028 Olympics could create serious problems, Raman appeared to soften her position.
“That’s all stuff that I think about now and things that certainly I will be weighing and considering as we move forward,” she told the outlet.
“I believe his term goes through 2030, if I’m not mistaken, and at that point I think I would be looking to appoint a new chief.”
The California Post pressed Raman for clarification Saturday, following repeated statements that she would dismiss McDonnell if elected. Her response suggested a different timeline.
“Chief McDonnell is Mayor Bass’s police chief. I have made it clear that I would seek a chief who can keep Angelenos safe and restore trust with our immigrant communities,” Raman told The Post. She said she would work with the Police Commission and LAPD command staff on a “careful, orderly transition.”
“Chief McDonnell’s term ends in 2030 and I would expect to replace him prior to that,” she said.
The shifting timeline follows a turbulent week for Raman. A now-deleted video labeled Bass and McDonnell “fascist liars” and placed a large red X over the chief’s face, prompting criticism from Bass, McDonnell and the police union just weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
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Raman appeared in the 90-second Instagram video alongside left-wing influencer Ed Choi, who interviewed her Sunday at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
Choi described Los Angeles as becoming “extremely fascist” before asking Raman how she would “de-fascist-ize” the city.
The video concluded with the pair saying, “Only you can stop fascist liars,” while showing images of Bass and McDonnell. A red mark was superimposed across the chief’s face.
Bass called Raman “incredibly irresponsible” and “not ready for prime time.” The Los Angeles Police Protective League also warned that the imagery could put McDonnell’s safety at risk.
Raman’s campaign blamed the video’s editing on Choi, saying her comments were aimed at ICE and the Trump administration rather than McDonnell or LAPD officers.
Choi has since alleged on Instagram that Raman told him defunding the police remained an option and that McDonnell would be removed.
The allegation has further complicated Raman’s evolving position on public safety and police policy.
In 2020, Raman embraced the “defund the police” movement and proposed converting the LAPD into a substantially smaller department.
By February, however, she said the department should retain its approximately 8,700 officers, even though she had voted against hiring 170 additional officers several weeks earlier.
Raman acknowledged in September that her views on defunding the police had changed.
Raman voted to confirm McDonnell as police chief in November 2024, when the City Council approved his appointment 11-2.