In a move hailed by city officials, Dominic H. Choi has been unanimously selected as the Interim Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners; his tenure commences March 1, 2024, marking a historic shift as he becomes the city's first Asian-American in this high-ranking position.
The appointment of Choi, with over 28 years of dedicated service under his belt, comes as the metropolis grapples with safety concerns and policing challenges, Mayor Karen Bass expressed optimism stating, "This appointment will continue our work to make Los Angeles safer, I look forward to working with Interim Chief Choi in the coming months as he provides steady and stable leadership for our police department" in a statement obtained by the office of the Mayor. The Mayor further emphasized Choi's deep-rooted connection to the community and his substantial growth within the department as essential qualities for his new role and for the goal of enhancing city safety.
Choi's career, starting in 1995 after graduating from the University of Southern California, spans multiple divisions where he has served as a detective, sergeant, and lieutenant, evidencing his ascent through the police ranks; he later assumed roles as Captain and as the Department's Homeless Coordinator before reaching the Deputy Chief appointment in 2019.
Manifesting a solid track record, the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners expressed their faith in Choi, noting his "vast experience" and acclaiming him as a "well-respected leader within the Department and the community, known for his vast knowledge and measured decision-making," citing this in a direct statement from the Los Angeles Mayor's office, with the belief that he is "uniquely qualified to steward the Department into its next chapter," until a permanent Chief of Police is installed.
As Los Angeles prepares for this transition, the community watches with anticipatory eyes, seeing in Choi not just a change of guard but a potential harbinger of deeper transformation within a venerable institution striving to better reflect and serve the rich tapestry of its populace.
