City Council Selects New Police Chief

The City Council has selected Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Ronald Banks as the new police chief, officials said Wednesday.

Banks, 58, was chosen from 41 candidates, including six applicants from within the department. City officials said Banks was the most qualified candidate for the job.

“He was head and shoulders above all the other candidates,” said Mayor Roosevelt Dorn. “We made the decision based on his strong background, training and experience. I believe his background makes him the perfect chief for our city.”

The chief’s position has been vacant since early last year when Oliver Thompson announced that he would step down after five years on the job. Lt. Alex Perez, who was a candidate for the job, has served as acting chief for the last year.

Banks, who is scheduled to be confirmed and sworn in by the City Council on Monday , began his law enforcement career with the LAPD nearly 32 years ago. He was made an LAPD assistant chief in 1994 and has been deputy chief since 1997.

“I’m honored to have been selected,” Banks said. “I feel that it is a wonderful place to culminate my career. There are a lot of challenges facing the city and I believe I have something to offer.”