During a televised mayoral debate, Councilmember Nithya Raman referred to former Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Daryl Gates’ era as the “golden standard,” drawing criticism from Black Angelenos. Raman has since sought to clarify her remarks, accusing Mayor Karen Bass of “twisting” her words.
Two days after the debate, Bass and Black community leaders gathered outside the mayor’s campaign headquarters in Baldwin Hills to call for a formal apology from Raman.
“My opponent is not really familiar with L.A. — especially not the Black community. She doesn’t know us,” Bass said.
Raman’s comments came during a discussion about immigration enforcement. She praised Special Order 40, a 1979 LAPD policy that restricted officers from initiating police action solely to determine a person’s immigration status.
But Gates’ tenure as police chief was also marked by aggressive policing of Black and Latino communities, including large-scale gang sweeps and the department’s response to allegations of police brutality.
From 1987 to 1990, Gates oversaw Operation Hammer, a large-scale crackdown on gang violence that resulted in thousands of arrests, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
At the height of the operation in April 1988, police arrested 1,453 people during a weekend sweep in South Los Angeles. The operation drew criticism over mass arrests, allegations of excessive force and the treatment of Black residents by police.
The 1991 beating of Rodney King further intensified scrutiny of the LAPD under Gates. King, a Black motorist, was beaten by officers following a high-speed pursuit. Video of the incident, which showed officers repeatedly striking King, sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.
In 1992, four officers charged in the beating were acquitted of most of the charges against them, triggering days of unrest across Los Angeles. Gates, who was chief during the beating and subsequent unrest, retired later that year.
“Let me be very clear,” Raman said of Gates in an Instagram video following the debate. “Daryl Gates was a racist, abhorrent, militaristic police chief. But 50 years ago, under the leadership of Mayor Tom Bradley, [the city] actually took strides to ensure that immigrant residents of Los Angeles were able to reach out to our law enforcement without fear of being reported to immigration authorities.”
Raman argued that the policy’s original intent stands in contrast to reports that the LAPD has shared information with federal immigration authorities under Bass’ administration.
She pointed to a 2025 CalMatters investigation that found California law enforcement agencies had conducted more than 100 searches of automated license plate reader data on behalf of federal immigration authorities in May 2025, including searches involving the LAPD. The findings raised questions about compliance with a California law restricting the sharing of license plate reader data with federal and out-of-state agencies.
Raman also criticized what she described as a lack of transparency surrounding the department’s interactions with federal authorities.
In a separate interview with radio personality Yesi Ortiz, Raman again addressed her reference to Gates and apologized for the pain her comments caused.
“I apologize for, you know, talking about an issue that I know is one that causes real pain to Angelenos,” Raman said when Ortiz asked her to clarify her comments. “I only mentioned that era because I feel like 50 years ago, in an era when our police force was very militarized that there was an effort being made to make sure that immigrants in Los Angeles, through Special Order 40, which was passed under Mayor Tom Bradley, were able to make crime reports without fear of immigration enforcement.”
Throughout her mayoral campaign, Raman has repeatedly criticized the LAPD’s handling of immigration enforcement, particularly under Chief Jim McDonnell, whom Bass appointed in 2024. Raman has accused McDonnell of failing immigrant communities, saying during a mayoral debate that he had “lost the trust of Angelenos, especially in light of the ICE raids.”
Raman has said she would replace McDonnell if elected, although she has not specified a timeline. The appointment of a new chief involves the city’s Police Commission.
Bass, meanwhile, has defended McDonnell and questioned Raman’s promise to replace him ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, arguing that a leadership change could throw the department into “disarray.”
The candidates have also differed over police funding. Raman previously called for reducing the LAPD’s budget, although her more recent positions have included support for maintaining staffing levels while changing department leadership and accountability practices. Bass has supported increased police funding and received the endorsement of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing rank-and-file LAPD officers.
The dispute underscores a broader divide between the candidates over the LAPD’s leadership and accountability. While Raman has argued that the department has failed immigrant communities under McDonnell, Bass has defended the chief and maintained that he has her full confidence.
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