LAPD Chief McDonnell Slammed for Stalled Reforms and Internal Unrest

Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is under fire for stalled reforms and ineffective leadership, despite a proposed annual salary of $500,509.

Concerns within the department are rising as McDonnell’s promised organizational overhaul has failed to materialize. The Los Angeles Times reported on May 1 that McDonnell, who was appointed chief late last year, pledged to restructure the department within 90 days. However, over six months later, no tangible progress has been seen, fueling skepticism.

At a City Council hearing on April 30, McDonnell blamed wildfire disruptions for the delay. Still, high-ranking officials expressed frustration over the lack of results, and the police union is reportedly pressing for a no-confidence vote. During the same hearing, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez questioned the justification for LAPD’s multimillion-dollar spending on helicopters and requested detailed financial records.

The Times also pointed to ongoing controversies involving racial slurs within LAPD. Connie Rice, a civil rights attorney and former LAPD advisor, said McDonnell has not addressed the issue of officers allegedly making derogatory remarks about Black applicants, women, and LGBTQ colleagues. “The LAPD is in serious trouble, and the hate speech scandal is just the beginning of deeper problems,” Rice warned.

Vacancies and Stalled Promotions Deepen Discontent

The report noted that McDonnell’s failure to advance key personnel decisions has worsened uncertainty within the department. Several positions remain vacant, and no promotions have been made from the existing lieutenant candidate list.

Mario Munoz, a retired LAPD officer and whistleblower attorney, criticized McDonnell’s lack of direction. “I’ve heard concerns within the department about his lack of strategy,” Munoz told the Times. “It seems unlikely there will be any real reform or meaningful change.”

Budget Constraints Add to the Pressure

Former LAPD Chief Bernard Parks noted that tight city budgets and pressure from inside and outside the department likely weigh heavily on McDonnell. Parks advised, “If there’s a plan, it’s crucial to communicate it as clearly as possible. The worst thing is to run an organization in fits and starts—that quickly saps morale.”

Salary Raises Eyebrows Amid Growing Scrutiny

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Commission has proposed a salary of $500,509 for McDonnell, more than twice the salary of the U.S. president and significantly higher than that of the chiefs of the New York and Chicago police departments.

The growing chorus of internal criticism is putting McDonnell’s leadership under intense scrutiny as pressure mounts for action.

BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]