James (Jim) McDonnell ’81 has been named the new Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department. McDonnell is originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Saint Anselm College.
Joe Emmons, who is the assistant vice president of alumni relations and advancement programming, reflected on McDonnell’s appointment saying, “The appointment of Jim McDonnell, Saint Anselm College class of 1981, as Chief of Police in Los Angeles, is a remarkable testament to his commitment to service, leadership, and integrity. Jim has exemplified the values of Saint Anselm throughout his career, working tirelessly to make a positive impact in the communities he serves. His dedication and vision are an inspiration to our entire Anselmian community, and we are immensely proud to celebrate his accomplishments and his new role as Chief of Police.”
McDonnell’s job as Chief of Police will be overseeing and maintaining the department's day-to-day operations. His goals for the department are to increase public safety, increase recruitment and retention within the department, strengthen trust within the public, develop community relationships, maintain respectful police practices, and prepare the LAPD and partners for the challenges ahead, especially with the World Cup coming in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028.
McDonnell has been working in law enforcement for 40 years and besides earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice at Saint Anselm College, he earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Executive Institute. He is the first officer in the Los Angeles area to serve in three senior executive leadership positions, which were, the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, Chief of the Long Beach Police Department, and First Assistant Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.
McDonnell started his policing career in Los Angeles and during his tenure as a police officer in Los Angeles, he worked on various assignments in the department, which included homicide, gangs, organized crime, vice, and patrol operations. His leadership experience also includes serving as Vice President of the Major County Sheriffs of America, President of the California Peace Officer’s Association, President of the Los Angeles County Police Chief’s Association, a board member of the Peace Officers’ Association of Los Angeles County, a member of Major Cities Chiefs Association, and as a member of the California Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards & Training(POST).
In 2001, McDonnell received the Saint Anselm College Alumni Association’s Justice Award for distinguished service in the field of Law/Criminal Justice, and in 2019, he received an honorary degree from Saint Anselm. Most recently, in 2021, he was the keynote/host of Reimaging Justice: First Encounters Police Stops, a webinar series presented by the Humanities Institute, The Anselmian Network for Racial Justice, the Saint Anselm Criminal Justice Department, and the Office of Alumni Relations.
Saint Anselm College has one of the oldest Criminal Justice programs in the country and students can also earn a Master’s in Criminal Justice.