LBPOST.com: Jim McDonnell Named Long Beach Police Chief

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Jim McDonnell Named Long Beach Police Chief

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 02.03.10 |

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11:00am | City Manager Pat West will name Jim McDonnell Chief of Police today, according to sources. McDonnell is a resident of Long Beach.

McDonnell has served as second in command in the Los Angeles Police Department since 2002, and served within the department for 28 years. He comes to Long Beach on the heels of former LBPD Chief Anthony Batts, who left his longtime position in August 2009 to take the Chief of Police job in Oakland.

There had been some controversy when it was announced in late 2009 that the search for a new LBPD chief would be extended to candidates from outside the force. Many believed that there were qualified candidates within the LBPD.

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Comments

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lbresident
Excellent. He is a Long Beach resident. He will care about quality of life in this city not just pensions. Hopefully this will be the start of growing a police force lives in the city so we don't have police suing taxpayers.

A. Norman
Glad the decision has finally been made. I met Jim during the latter stages of a change management study that my colleagues and I were conducting of LAPD. He inherits a management team that is second to none and should do a fine job for the city of Long Beach.

lbresident 2
is this the guy that lives next door to pat west?

mb
So is this the same guy that is buddies with Pat West?

John Langmore
I am just glad that the bickering and internal politics are finally over. Long Beach deserves the very best, and it sounds like the new chief's track record is beyond reproach. LBPD has a great command staff that just got better. So hopefully the armchair quarterbacks, police union and the politicians get behind our new chief and give him the momentum he needs to make LBPD the best police force out there.

Venable
I live in L. A. San Pedro) and worked in Long Beach for many years. I have heard great things about McDonnell - many folks in L.A. thought he should have advanced to chief here.

Lb resident #2
Congrats to Jim McDonnell he will do a fine job. He will be one of the best LB Police Chief. So glad we have a very competent person in charge.

real next door neighbor
Jim McDonnell does not live anywhere near Pat West. I live next door to the McDonnell family, and have for the last 6 years. Pat West is not one of our neighbors. Jim McDonnell is one of the most honorable men I have ever met. The city of Long Beach is very lucky to have such an outstanding new chief. LAPD's loss is truly Long Beach's gain.

Dave in Alamitos Beach
I don't see how Pat West and Jim McDonnell could be neighbors because McDonnell lives in Long Beach. Pat West does not.

LBRMCEO
Anyone named Jim must be a great choice. Good Luck, Chief! Jim Lewis, CEO LB Rescue Mission

Concerned Resident
Wow- what an excellent choice...such a win/win. Not only do we have a local resident, but one who also served under Chief Bratton. I'm relieved.

CHARLIE
DITTO!

Angel
Congrats to Jim McDonnell as our new Chief of Police! This is a nice surprise that Chief McDonnell is a resident of Long Beach. I believe that Chief Batts had a very professional mgt style and did an outstanding job. We hope our new chief follows in his successful foot steps to continue the high standards of safety and law enforcement that the Community of Long Beach deserves!

Ute 9
I believe this is a significant and positive event in our City's history. Jim McDonnell will provide the necessary leadership, vision and resolve to a department that has superior management and a skilled police force. I also believe, knowing Jim, that he will succeed in obtaining community and business involvement and funding for programs aimed at providing inner-city youth the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential. Congrats Jim!

D. Lejins
While some residents and officers would have preferred an in-house promotion, the choice has been made and I truly hope that all will get behind our new Chief and make this the best PD ever.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen is a graduate of the CSULB School of Journalism, writing for the campus' Union Weekly newspaper and serving as Sports Editor for one year. He has written for numerous news and sports websites and magazines, as well as television experience with Fox Sports and ABC Channel 7.