Newly sworn-in Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell is concerned that the city's rosy crime statistics don't tell the full story. McDonnell pointed to concerns about the perception of disorder — and the reality that crimes are going unreported because some believe nothing will be done to investigate, reports the Los Angeles Times. McDonnell said he would rather see the city’s crime numbers rise because it would give him a real picture of the problem and a better idea of what he must do to handle it. “Our officers and professional staff are working very hard to continue to drive those numbers down,” he said. “But the perception of the public is based on a number of different things, and one of those things, I think, is that they would say reported crime is down because people don’t have confidence that anything is going to be done.”
That frankness is one factor that led Mayor Karen Bass to turn to McDonnell, 65, as the new chief, capping a 40-year career that included LAPD beat cop, L.A. County sheriff and Long Beach police chief. McDonnell said some citizens have been hesitant to call the police in recent years because they haven’t felt that anything “meaningful would be done.” He placed partial blame on prosecutors for not pressing charges in many low-level crimes — a policy that is expected to change next month when Nathan Hochman takes over as L.A. County district attorney, replacing the progressive incumbent George Gascón. State voters also passed Proposition 36, which will enact harsher penalties for certain types of thefts and drug crimes. In his public remarks Thursday, McDonnell said his first 90 days on the job will be spent listening, evaluating and planning how to move forward. “Priority One is addressing crime, particularly violent and property crimes,” he said. McDonnell listed his other priorities as transparency and accountability, addressing homelessness, improved emergency readiness, and “responsible adoption and use of technology with a steadfast commitment to privacy.” The chief also seemingly sought to quell concerns that the LAPD under his watch would be overly aggressive. “Let me be absolutely clear: Reducing crime and building trust are not separate goals,” he said. “They are deeply intertwined. We must be true partners in the pursuit of justice, united by a shared commitment to safety and mutual respect.”
Comments