LA Mayor Villaraigosa may name a new police chief Monday

Nov. 1, 2009 | Shirley Jahad | KPCC

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa this afternoon is giving second interviews to the three finalists for the job as LA's police chief.

All three candidates are long time LAPD veterans. They each started as cops on the beat on the streets of Los Angeles and rose to the highest ranks of the department.

CA/Local News

Jim McDonnell has been 1st assistant chief under former Chief William J. Bratton. Michel Moore and Charlie Beck are deputy chiefs. Moore oversees policing in the San Fernando Valley. He has 28 years with the department. Beck, 56, heads the Detective Bureau. Policing runs in his family. He has been with the department for 32 years. His father was a deputy chief, and his daughter works out of the Hollywood Station. His son is about to graduate from the Police Academy.

McDonnell, 50, has been Bratton's chief of staff -- second in command. He was passed over for chief when Bratton was hired, but Bratton stuck pretty close to McDonnell's plan for implemented reforms and getting the department out from under the federal consent decree brought on by the Rampart scandal. He has 28 years with the department.

Villaraigosa may announce his choice as soon as tomorrow. Villairaigosa says he wants the LA City Council to confirm his choice by Nov. 10. That is the earliest date the city council can do so.

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