LA’s New Police Chief Earns $450,000, One of the Highest Salaries in the US
Jim McDonnell, former Los Angeles County Sheriff, was sworn in as the new Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department on Friday, earning a base salary of $450,000, making him one of the highest-paid police chiefs in major U.S. cities. This salary, while lower than the initial proposal of $507,509, still exceeds the salary of the previous chief and even surpasses the current LA County Sheriff’s salary. The decision to pay McDonnell such a high salary has been met with criticism, with some arguing that it’s excessive, especially considering the city’s budget constraints. However, the salary is deemed to be in line with the market rate for high-level law enforcement positions, especially in light of recent nationwide trends of officer resignations and retirements.
John Q. Hosedrinker