Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell has sharply criticized mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman for her allegations that the LAPD has been collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and alienating immigrant communities.
McDonnell, a 45-year veteran of law enforcement, dismissed Raman's claims as political attacks. "It's ugly, you and some people take it to an extreme and do things they can't take back later," he stated in response to the accusations.
Raman, a Los Angeles city councilwoman challenging Mayor Karen Bass, has vowed to remove McDonnell from his position if elected, despite his term extending through 2030. The core of their dispute centers on Raman's allegations that the LAPD has shared sensitive information, including data from fingerprint databases and Flock cameras, with ICE, potentially endangering undocumented immigrants.
McDonnell unequivocally denied these assertions, emphasizing that California law prohibits the LAPD from directly assisting federal immigration enforcement. "Not at all," he said when asked about working with ICE. "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 clarified that the department is legally obligated to send collected fingerprints to the California Department of Justice, which then enters them into a national database. This process, he explained, is essential for tracking fugitives across state lines and not an indication of cooperation with ICE raids.
Regarding Flock license plate cameras, McDonnell stated the LAPD has distanced itself from the technology due to concerns over civil liberties. Mayor Karen Bass has also backed her chief, calling Raman's allegations untrue.
McDonnell also contested Raman's assertion that his leadership has eroded trust within immigrant communities. He highlighted that 57% of the LAPD's sworn officers and over half of its civilian employees are Latino, reflecting the diversity of the community they serve. "Our mission is to protect communities, not conduct immigration enforcement," he added.
The political clash has extended to the LAPD's budget and staffing. Raman has claimed that city leaders have increased spending by $500 million while reducing the number of officers by 1,500. McDonnell countered that competitive salaries are crucial for recruitment, especially as police departments nationwide face challenges in hiring qualified candidates. He also pointed to a reported decline in crime, noting a 10.1% decrease in overall crime and a 9.1% drop in homicides this year.
Mayor Bass criticized Raman's plan to replace McDonnell before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, warning that the extensive process of selecting a new chief could destabilize the department during a critical period. Bass, who spent 10 months selecting McDonnell, called the idea of installing a new chief just six months before the Games "insanity."
Raman has not named a potential successor or provided a timeline for replacing McDonnell, stating that such a decision would require input from the Police Commission and City Council.