LBPOST.com: Long Beach Police Chief Press Conference

Monday, March 15, 2010 | Home

Long Beach Police Chief Press Conference

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 02.03.10 |

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Update 1:27pm |�The LBPOST.com has been testing live video feeds since early January 2010. Today's live video feed was stopped due to technical difficulties. However, we will continue to test the technology and will be back with more live coverage in the near future. Thank you!
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12:30pm |�Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West will host a press conference at 1:00pm today to announce Jim McDonnell as the new Chief of Police. 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.�

Comments

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NA
Pretty awesome!! Thanks LBPOST

Nikol
I like all the new video stuff!

CR
Long Beach has made a great choice in selecting longtime resident jim McDonnell as chief. Congratulations to our city leaders for getting it right!

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.

Angel
Congrats to Jim McDonnell as the new Chief of Police! This is a nice surprise that Mr. 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!

KM
I can't seem to get it past 1:25, is there a more updated segment? I'm glad Long Beach chose Chief McDonnell, he will do an excellent job!

lb resident
It's great to have your neighbor as police cheif.... Looks like West is looking out for himself again.

Anastasia
Thanks LBPOST, that was great! I am a HUGE fan of your website!!!

cccal
Congratulations on the appointment of Jim McDonnell as Chief of Police. I am pleased to see the new Chief is a resident of Long Beach. I am sure he will do a great job for L.B. citizens! CC Cal

LBSgtEmeritus
Jim has been a great neighbor for many years and did an excellent job in Los Angeles. It is great to have a Chief that lives in Long Beach and that will have the desire to provide a home town type service to the community.

Al C
I'd like to say thanks to our city leaders for "going the extra mile" to reach out and find someone that has an exceptional background...and is a LB resident. I realize that it was a difficult decision to go outside of our own police department. But I firmly believe that the residents of Long Beach...and our police officers will benefit from this choice.

CMJ
Excellent choice. I have known Jim for years and have always been impressed with his professionalism and dedication to duty.

Sarah P.
lb resident... you say West and McDonnell are neighbors, but I don't believe West lives in Long Beach, and McDonnell does...your logic doesn't seem to make sense to me. They are not neighbors. As a resident of Long Beach, I've followed both the LAPD and LBPD chief's races, and it's clear that McDonnell is the best candidate and will serve the city well!

Aileen
Excellent news Congratulations Chief McDonnell, wishing you continued success and way to go Pat West. Job well done.

Frank
THis is great. Jim is a cool guy. Long Beach got a good one. Congrats

Roy Hanson
I think at level of Chief it is good to get someone from outside our great police department to help bring in additional good ideas from another great organization. Roy Hanson, Resident, Belmont Shore

Guttman
There were many qualified candidates (both inside and out of LBPD), but this is a great addition for Long Beach. Homerun.

NeighborofJim's
Jim and Kathy live on my street and Pat West does not live anywhere around here. LB is very fortunate to get a chief with his experience and national/international exposure to law enforcement practices

Sal Sanders
Best choice by far. Kept it inhouse and picked the best man for the job.

LB Lover
McDonnell is a great choice and the best choice. Those getting on the City Manager for changing the process need to appreciate that he was really sticking his neck out by changing the process midstream and going with a non-LBPD choice. For one, I'm glad he looked out for the citizens and went with the very best candidate (by far) rather than taking the safe political choice.

Kate K
Great. I'd hoped that they'd pick him. All around, he seemed the best for the job--a resident and also the experience working with an innovative, reality-based chief.

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.