Long Beach Police Chief to Make a Run for Sheriff

UPDATED AT 6:30 P.M.

Chief Jim McDonnell has confirmed through a news release that he will indeed run for Los Angeles County Sheriff. Here is the release sent just before 5 tonight.

Chief Jim McDonnell, who has headed the Long Beach Police Department since 2010 and served as the second in command in the Los Angeles Police Department, announced today that he is running for Los Angeles County Sheriff in the June 3, 2014 election. 

McDonnell is the immediate past president of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs' Association and served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 29 years, holding every rank in the department up to Chief of Staff. He also served on the Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence, an independent blue ribbon panel that investigated and issued a report with recommendations to bring about lasting and meaningful changes within the Los Angeles County jails and has been an active leader in state and national law enforcement and criminal justice bodies.

McDonnell announced that he begins his candidacy with broad, bi-partisan support, including many of top local leaders in law enforcement. 

McDonnell’s initial endorsements include (all titles are for identification purposes only; organizational support is not implied): 

• Jackie Lacey, Los Angeles County District Attorney
• Don Knabe, Los Angeles County Supervisor 
• Steve Cooley, former Los Angeles County District Attorney 
• Charlie Beck, Chief of Police, City of Los Angeles 
• Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney 
• Bob Foster, Long Beach Mayor 
• Bob Hertzberg, former Assembly Speaker 
• Rick Caruso, former President, L.A. Police Commission 
• John Van de Kamp, former California Attorney General & Los Angeles District Attorney 
• Tony Cardenas, Congressmember 
• State Senator Ted Lieu 
• Felipe Fuentes, Los Angeles City Councilmember 
• Nury Martinez, Los Angeles City Councilmember 
• Walter Allen III, Mayor of Covina 
• Fred Gaines, Mayor of Calabasas 
• Terry Hara, Deputy Chief, Los Angeles Police Department 
• Alan Skobin, former Vice President, Los Angeles Police Commission 
• Lloyd Greif, former Chair, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation 
• Bert & Jane Boeckmann, former President, L.A. Police Commission & owners, Galpin Ford 
• Naomi Rainey-Pierson, Philanthropist/civil rights leader

ORIGINAL ARTICLE FROM 5:27 P.M. TODAY

KCAL Channel 9 News is reporting that Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell has confirmed he will run for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s.

The station’s report was made during the 4 p.m. news hour. There had been a great deal of speculation regarding a run by McDonnell. The announcement is not unexpected despite MDonnell’s assurances in June to the Long Beach city council that he would not leave the department.

Sheriff Lee Baca announced on Jan. 7 that he would be resigning his current post, effectively dropping out of this year’s race for sheriff. His resignation comes amid several controversies within the department including a federal investigation into alleged abuses by deputies in the county jail.

McDonnell joins a growing number of candidates who will run for the position. According to reports, there could be as many as six candidates.