Mayor Karen Bass swore in the city’s new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Jim McDonnell, at a morning ceremony Thursday, Nov. 14 at Elysian Park Academy near downtown as his wife Kathy looked on — and even adjusted his chief’s hat. He becomes the 59th chief of the LAPD.

In a ceremonial formality, Mayor Karen Bass wore in former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as the 59th chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

By Elizabeth Chou/Los Angeles Public Press This article was first published by the nonprofit newsroom LA Public Press on Oct. 29, and is republished here with permission. When Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass

Jim McDonnell is the first person to serve in senior executive leadership positions in three of the largest policing agencies in Los Angeles County: the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles Police Department,

Earlier this year, the number of LAPD's sworn officers dipped below 8,800, its lowest number in decades. That will be a big challenge for new Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

Mayor Karen Bass sore in former Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell as the 59th chief of the Los Angeles Police Department on Thursday morning.