LA Board of Police Commissioners will consider $507K salary for next LAPD chief
The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners will meet Tuesday, Nov. 5, to consider a proposed $507,509 annual salary for former L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, the anticipated next chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The proposed salary surpasses the $350,000 initially earned by Michel Moore, who retired in February, leaving Dominic Choi to serve as interim chief.
If approved by the commission, the proposed salary would require a vote by the City Council.
“The mayor is looking forward to working with Chief McDonnell to keep Los Angeles safe by growing and strengthening LAPD, deepening relationships with communities across the city, and making sure that Los Angeles is vigilant and prepared for anything that comes our way,” Zachary Seidl, spokesman for Mayor Karen Bass, said in an email.
“The Police Commission sets the salary of the chief of police within the bounds of the pay range for that position,” he added.
McDonnell’s proposed salary also exceeds that of Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who earns around $397,340, according to city and county records, and President Joe Biden, who has a $400,000 annual salary.
The proposed salary would also surpass that of New York Police Department commissioners, who earn about $243,000 annually, as well as Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling at $260,472 and Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz at $315,000.
According to an LAPD report, McDonnell’s nomination may be considered by the City Council as soon as next Friday.
The City Council’s Public Safety Committee advanced McDonnell’s nomination on a 4-1 vote last week after discussing his plans for the department and his views on immigration, police discipline, pretextual stops, recruitment and low morale, among other topics.
LAPD officials reported on Oct. 15 that recruitment challenges persist, with the department’s sworn personnel totaling 8,795.
McDonnell wouldn’t be the highest paid city employee. In May, the City Council confirmed longtime Pacific Gas and Electric executive Janisse Quiñones as the general manager of the Department of Water and Power with an annual salary of $750,000.
Funding for Quiñones’ salary comes directly from the DWP’s revenues, and will not impact the city’s general fund.
According to a representative from Bass’ office, city officials backed the $750,000 salary in an effort to remain competitive with private and public agencies. Quiñones’ salary is similar to rates at the Omaha Public Power District in Nebraska and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.