Nithya Raman, a candidate for mayor in Los Angeles, is sending some conflicting signals regarding her stance on the LAPD leadership. She has previously stated her intention to replace the city’s current police chief if she wins, yet during a recent interview with ABC 7, she downplayed the urgency of removing Chief Jim McDonnell from his position.
In her interview, Raman remarked that prioritizing the replacement of the chief isn’t something she plans to focus on right away. Instead, she emphasized the need to rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and the public. “Replacing the chief of police is not on my 100-day agenda. Restoring trust with our law enforcement and the public is on my 100-day agenda,” she commented, while citing that McDonnell hasn’t quite “met the moment.”
However, when questioned about a comment from incumbent Mayor Karen Bass regarding the potential risks of dismissing McDonnell shortly before the 2028 Olympics, Raman softened her stance. “That’s all stuff that I think about now and things that certainly I will be weighing and considering as we move forward,” she noted, indicating that the chief’s contract runs until 2030, at which time she would likely want to appoint a new chief.
Later, when the California Post reached out for clarification on her previous comments about replacing McDonnell, Raman shifted her approach again. “Chief McDonnell is Mayor Bass’s police chief. I have made it clear that I would seek a chief who can keep Angelenos safe and restore trust with our immigrant communities,” she stated, signaling her intention to collaborate with the Police Commission for a “careful, orderly transition.”
This fluctuating timeline highlights a tumultuous week for Raman, especially after a controversial video of her labeling McDonnell as a “fascist liar” and marking his face with a red X, which ignited backlash from Bass, McDonnell, and law enforcement groups as the election approaches.
Raman was featured in this video with lefty influencer Ed Choi, who made bold claims about the city. In this clip, they insisted that “only you can stop fascist liars,” while displaying images of Bass and McDonnell. Bass criticized Raman’s comments as “incredibly irresponsible” and “not ready for prime time,” while the Los Angeles Police Protective League cautioned that such depictions could put McDonnell in danger.
Raman’s campaign insisted that her remarks were directed towards ICE and the Trump administration, not McDonnell or LAPD officers. Nevertheless, Choi asserted on Instagram that Raman had mentioned defunding the police and suggested that McDonnell’s removal was on the table, further complicating her positions on policing.
This reflects a notable evolution in Raman’s views over the years. Initially, in 2020, she supported the “defund the police” movement and aimed to reduce the LAPD’s size significantly. However, earlier this year, while she maintained that the department’s force should remain at approximately 8,700 officers, she had also voted against adding 170 new officers just weeks before that.
In September, Raman acknowledged that her stance on defunding the police has changed. Curiously, despite the fervency of her recent anti-McDonnell rhetoric, she had voted in favor of confirming him as police chief back in November 2024 when the City Council approved his appointment by a vote of 11-2.
