Former LAPD Chief Endorses McDonnell

LONG BEACH — On Feb. 13, former Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton announced his support for Jim McDonnell in his campaign to be elected Sheriff for Los Angeles County.

McDonnell, who has served as chief of the Long Beach Police Department since 2010 and served as the second in command in the Los Angeles Police Department, announced his candidacy in mid-January.

Bratton’s support comes on the heels of the announcement by the executive director and members of the Los Angeles Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence of their unanimous endorsement, as private citizens, of McDonnell. McDonnell served on the commission, which was created in the fall of 2011 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. After a yearlong process, the commission issued a 200-page report in September 2012, with more than 60 recommendations for reform of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and its Custody division.

In addition to Bratton, McDonnell is supported by many other top law enforcement leaders who have served the people of Los Angeles County, including District Attorney Jackie Lacey, former District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Gil Garcetti, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, former California Attorney General John Van de Kamp, former U.S. Attorney and DEA head Robert Bonner, Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert and former U.S. Attorney and County Counsel and Police Commission President Andrea Ordin, among others. Within the past several days, McDonnell was also endorsed by the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association, California Police Chiefs Association and the California Peace Officers Association.

“In examining the many issues and challenges facing the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department today, I believe Jim McDonnell’s uniquely varied skills, recognized and respected leadership and decades of experience with both the LAPD and the Long Beach Police Department will lend themselves to facilitating meaningful change,” Bratton said in a released statement. “I’ve known Jim McDonnell for over 30 years. When I began my service as Chief of the LAPD in 2007, I already had great respect for his insights on policing strategies and was aware of his tremendous capabilities.”