Bass, who currently serves as mayor, appointed Jim McDonnell to a five‑year term as chief of police in 2024, a move backed by ten city council members, including Raman, who voted in favor of the appointment.
Raman has since argued that McDonnell has “lost the confidence” of the city, a claim she has not substantiated with concrete evidence, and she warns that the department appears overly cooperative with federal immigration authorities.
The debate comes as Los Angeles records historically low violent‑crime numbers: the city logged 230 homicides in 2025, a drop of 54 from the previous year and the fewest homicides recorded since 1966, while overall violent and property crimes also declined.
At the same time, LAPD officers’ use of force rose sharply, with 45 officer‑involved shootings in 2025—a 70 percent increase—and 14 people killed in those incidents, prompting McDonnell to pledge rigorous internal and external investigations of each shooting.
Federal immigration enforcement has added another layer of tension; after President Donald Trump’s 2024 push to militarize immigration raids, LAPD officers have been caught protecting ICE agents despite a department policy, dating back to 1979, that prohibits stops based on immigration status.
Budget proposals have further divided the candidates: Bass advocates for additional funding for the police department, while Raman cautions that simply throwing money at the LAPD will not resolve systemic issues, emphasizing the need for targeted resources and accountability.
Both candidates agree that the core question is not merely whether McDonnell should remain chief, but how the city’s leaders will articulate a clear, accountable vision for policing that balances crime reduction with constitutional protections.