New LA police chief sworn in as one of the highest-paid police chiefs in the US

LOS ANGELES – Former sheriff of Los Angeles County Jim McDonnellwho was sworn in as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department on Friday, will receive one of the highest police chief salaries in the U.S. for a major city.

Before the ceremony, the City Council approved McDonnell’s base salary of $450,000, which the LA Board of Police Commissioners had requested. That’s less than the board’s original proposal of $507,509, which was a jump of more than $150,000 from the previous chief’s salary.

The salary range for the position was determined during the search process at $408,475 to $507,509.

The previous chef, Michel Moore, who announced this his pension in January earned a base salary of $391,268 in 2023, according to city controller data.

McDonnell, 65, will lead a force of nearly 9,000 officers led by interim Chief Dominic Choi.

The New York Police Department commissioner, who oversees the nation’s largest police department with more than 30,000 officers, makes about $243,000 for the last two commissioners, according to city records. Chicago Police Chief Larry Snelling makes $275,748, according to city records posted online.

McDonnell will also make more than the LA County sheriff’s current salary of $397,340, according to county records.

The City Council confirmed McDonnell’s appointment on a 10-2 vote Friday, with City Council members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Euniss Hernandez opposing.

Some have criticized the decision to pay McDonnell an “exorbitant” salary as the council faces budget problems.

“Why not start it at a lower rate? Considering the situation the city is in,” Police Commissioner Maria Lou Calanche said during a meeting on Tuesday.

Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Washington-based nonprofit think tank Police Executive Research Forum, said West Coast police chiefs generally earn more than their East Coast counterparts, according to a 2021 survey of more than 300 departments across the country. country.

And he said LA has traditionally been among the highest, although McDonnell’s salary is $100,000 more than the previous chief’s salary.

“Police officer salaries across the country have been significantly impacted by a large number of layoffs and retirements,” Wexler said. “With the increase in entry-level salaries, manager compensation has also increased.”

The $450,000 salary does not include benefits or potential bonuses. McDonnell will also be allowed to continue receiving retirement benefits from his previous positions.

“I’m honored to get what the committee felt this job was worth. I fought for the job, I was fortunate enough to be the one appointed,” McDonnell said of his pay, which he described as “somewhat mid-range off the track. salary range and reflects his experience and education.

The vote came at the end of a lengthy and tumultuous public comment period and questioning by city council members, which saw several people ejected from council chambers. McDonnell’s appointment drew strong opposition from immigration advocates, who say he allowed federal authorities to operate freely while he was sheriff and shared information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Maria Estrada, an employee of the Service Employees International Union, said during Friday’s council hearing that she remembers McDonnell being sheriff and her colleagues reporting crimes against them.

“Some of these colleagues were deported,” she said. “Thousands of us members here in this community are afraid that this man will come to power.”

McDonnell addressed these concerns during his confirmation hearing.

“I want to be unequivocal. LAPD will protect LA’s immigrant community. We will not participate in mass deportations and at the individual level, officers will not take action to determine anyone’s immigration status and they will not be arrested for that status,” McDonnell said. “Los Angeles is a city of immigrants and it is my job to protect this city. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

He acknowledged the fears caused by President Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday and his campaign promises mass deportation. McDonnell said he would not cooperate with federal agencies on immigration enforcement.

Mayor Karen Bass chose McDonnell from three candidates selected by a civilian board of Los Angeles police commissioners, including Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides and former Deputy Chief Robert “Bobby” Arcos. Both were reported by the Los Angeles Times as finalists for the position. Bass met with hundreds of LAPD officers and community leaders before making her decision.

McDonnell was elected LA County Sheriff in 2014 to oversee the largest sheriff’s department in the US. Previously, he spent 29 years with the LAPD and served as Long Beach police chief for nearly five years.