LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell responded to criticism from mayoral candidate Nithya Raman regarding the police handling of ICE raids in Los Angeles last year. He emphasized his presence during a time when violent protests led to chaos in the city, a situation in which 52 police officers were assaulted.
These comments came after the California Post disclosed that Raman was enjoying drinks at a popular Silver Lake restaurant while riots were taking place in downtown Los Angeles on June 6, 2025.
Raman has pledged to dismiss McDonnell, claiming he hasn’t adequately addressed ICE detaining undocumented immigrants in the city. She has also faced backlash for referring to McDonnell and the LAPD as “fascist liars.”
“I was out there,” McDonnell stated, pointing out Raman’s choice to be elsewhere during the unrest. “I don’t know that people who are criticizing us were anywhere near there.”
When asked about her “fascist” remarks, McDonnell mentioned he typically tries to ignore such attacks to maintain focus.
“It’s very disappointing to me that we have to deal with that,” he added. “In the second-largest city in America, we expect more than that.”
McDonnell had strong words for the officers who managed the chaos, detailing the kinds of weapons they faced, which he suggested could have resulted in deadly consequences.
“They were being assaulted by commercial-grade fireworks, which can kill you,” he said. “Those can be lethal.”
He illustrated the dangerous conditions police faced, mentioning Molotov cocktails, ATVs crashing into police lines, as well as being pelted with rocks and other heavy objects.
To prevent the situation from escalating further, the Chief explained that officers used tear gas.
“So, in effect, by doing that, we saved lives,” he remarked.
McDonnell expressed concerns that a fatal incident in Los Angeles could have national implications.
“The eyes of the world are on Los Angeles. What we do here matters,” he stated.
He refuted claims that the LAPD supports ICE in immigration enforcement, clarifying that the department has maintained a policy against such collaboration since 1979.
“We’re very comfortable at LAPD telling anybody that we do not work with ICE on immigration issues,” he said, however, he acknowledged partnerships with other federal agencies, like the FBI and DEA, for different matters including human trafficking.
McDonnell pointed out that the LAPD is currently “woefully understaffed,” with about 8,500 officers, even as crime rates have decreased in every category and officer-involved shootings have dropped by 53% this year.
He dismissed the notion that declining crime rates indicate a need for fewer officers.
“Well, how much crime is acceptable?” he challenged. “I would say none if you’re going to be one of the victims, or a loved one be a victim.”
In advising the next mayor on how to support the department, McDonnell recommended taking firsthand policing experience through ride-alongs and discussions with officers.
“It’s easy to be able to make a judgment on something you don’t know about and be very sure of yourself,” he noted.
His overarching advice to potential leaders was to “get to know the issues.”
Finally, McDonnell warned that officer morale significantly declines when they feel unsupported by the city and the community, especially when resources are limited.
“We go out there every day and we adapt and overcome and move on, and the results, I think, speak for themselves,” he concluded.
