Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass swore in Assistant Chief Dominic Choi as the new interim chief of police for the Los Angeles Police Department March 1, who will replace retiring Chief Michel Moore.
“The number one job of mayor is to keep Angelenos safe, and it is my honor to be here today, as we swear in Dominic Choi as interim chief of police, as we work to do just that: keep Los Angeles safe,” Ms. Bass said at the ceremony, held at LAPD headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
Mr. Choi is the first Asian-American to hold the position.
“For me, today marks more than just a personal achievement—it symbolizes the progress that we’re making towards a more inclusive and representative law enforcement agency,” Mr. Choi said. “And it speaks volumes about the diversity that this city has—the vibrance and the dynamics that we all know it to be. And as we celebrate this milestone, let us recognize that our differences are our strength.”
(Courtesy of Los Angeles Police Department)
The installment of the interim chief came a day after hundreds of officers lined the sidewalk outside police headquarters to bid farewell to Chief Moore as he retires following over 40 years of service.
“It has been an honor and privilege to have served Los Angeles for more than four decades,” Mr. Moore said in a statement Thursday. “As I look forward to my next adventure with my family, I am proud of the dedication of our people and know the future for Los Angeles and the LAPD is bright.”
Accompanied by his wife and bodyguards, the chief walked through the crowd, occasionally pausing to shake hands or hug individuals. The ceremony, known as Honor Cordon, is considered one of the department’s highest tributes.
Last month, Mr. Moore, 63, who became chief in 2018, announced his retirement shortly after being reappointed for a second five-year term. The retiring chief said that he is planning on moving away from Los Angeles to stay closer to his daughter, but he will remain as a consultant with the city.
He was additionally honored by Mayor Bass and the Los Angeles City Council Wednesday.
“We’ve been through many crises related to weather or other various situations where you had to call everybody together and we work together collaboratively, and I really appreciate that and honor your 40 years,” Ms. Bass said during the ceremony in the city’s Council Chamber.
During his time in office, Mr. Moore tackled a range of crises, from overseeing the response to the George Floyd protests to managing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently, addressing the surge in smash-and-grab retail thefts.
“I’ve said repeatedly that Chief Moore has an encyclopedic understanding of this department, and he has served in so many various roles, and understands the dynamics, the reporting requirements, and the importance of building the public’s trust,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee.
The new interim chief is a son of Korean immigrants and was raised locally. He joined the LAPD in 1995 after earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern California.
After being promoted to detective at the Harbor Division in 2001, Mr. Choi progressed to the roles of sergeant in the 77th Street area in 2002, lieutenant in 2009, and captain in 2014. In December 2017, he attained the rank of commander and assumed duties within the Operations-Central Bureau, concurrently serving as the department’s homeless coordinator until July 2019.
He became deputy chief in August 2019 and assistant chief in July 2021.
In January, Mr. Choi was appointed director of the Office of Operations, responsible for the South Bureau Homicide Division, the LAX Field Services Division, the Department Homeless Coordinator, Operations-Central Bureau, Operations-South Bureau, Operations-West Bureau, and Operations-Valley Bureau.
He is married with three children.
During a February news conference, Mr. Choi prioritized maintaining departmental stability during the city’s search for a new police chief and bolstering LAPD’s ranks. Additionally, Mr. Choi said he wouldn’t seek the permanent position, adhering to the commissioners’ rules for the interim chief search.
