The Los Angeles Police Commission has reappointed Chief Michel R. Moore as Chief of Police. Mayor Karen Bass expressed to the Commission her support for his reappointment in the letter shared below.
As has been publicly reported, and in line with discussions between the Mayor and Chief Moore, he will not serve a full five-year term. At the appropriate time, in advance of global events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, a nationwide search will commence and a new chief will be selected.
On Jan. 30, Bass wrote to Los Angeles Police Commission President William J. Briggs:
Dear President Briggs:
This month, three Angelenos of color lost their lives after encounters with the Los Angeles Police Department – two by gunfire, one after repeated applications of a Taser. All three men showed signs of mental crisis, and all three deaths underscore the need for continued and significant reform of how the City approaches public safety.
In considering whether to recommend the reappointment of Michel R. Moore as Chief of Police, I have drawn on my long history of working to improve public safety and LAPD, which predates my founding of the Community Coalition in 1990. This work continued when I represented Los Angeles in the State Assembly and in Congress, and I consulted with LAPD union and Chief Moore in authoring the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. For decades, I’ve heard directly from neighbors, community members, and the people of Los Angeles about their views on public safety, and since taking office, I have had detailed discussions with Chief Moore and stakeholders.
I therefore write today in support of reappointing Chief Moore. He and I have discussed and agreed upon the need for:
• Continuing and expanding police reform,
including improving the response involving
those experiencing a mental health crisis
• Reducing crime
• Increased community policing
• Expanding alternative response measures
• Increased recruitment of reform-minded
officers
Specific actions toward these goals that I expect include:
• Mental health training for all officers and a
plan to increase availability of Mental
Evaluation Units (MEU) and Systemwide
Mental Assessment Teams (SMART)
• Partnership between the Department and the
new Office of Community Safety within the
Mayor’s Office to determine and implement
specific, cross-departmental safety strategies
in different neighborhoods.
• Working with Taser manufacturers to limit
the number of discharges possible
• Working with the City Council to reform or
remove the All Civilian Option from Board
of Rights hearings. As currently constituted,
the All Civilian Option has reduced account
ability for officer misconduct.
• Work with the Department of Personnel to
remove delays and barriers and otherwise
increase recruitment and hiring; move sworn
officers in civilian positions to patrol and fill
those and currently vacant civilian positions
with civilians; and continue to examine roles
traditionally held by sworn personnel for
transition to civilians.
Chief Moore’s meeting of these expectations will require continuous monitoring by the Board of Police Commissioners and myself.
Thank you for the service you provide to the City of Los Angeles.
—Mayor Karen Bass