Senator Sasha Renée Pérez issues statement on LAPD Chief’s comments implying the department will not enforce anti-police masking law

SACRAMENTO – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) has issued the following statement on LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell’s comments implying the LAPD will not enforce California’s anti-police masking law SB 627:

“LAPD Chief McDonnell’s apparent decision to not enforce California’s, SB 627, the No Secret Police Act, by stating it ‘does not make sense’ is alarming and signals a disregard for his legal obligation to uphold our state laws. A Police Chief does not get to pick and choose which laws will be enforced and which will go ignored. This stance squarely contradicts the Chief’s own claim at the same press conference that public safety is the government’s foremost responsibility and, without it, everything else fails.

“Public safety does not exist when immigration raids with masked agents directly destabilize communities and erode trust. Statements like this create a broader ripple effect that undermine consistent enforcement of our laws and feed into the current federal administration’s arbitrary behaviors. I expect more from a leader who has a distinguished public service career and who has taken an oath to uphold all our laws and protect the rights and safety of millions of diverse Angelenos.

“Chief McDonnell must clarify his position and restate his commitment to enforcing the law, including duly passed laws like SB 627 and SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act, which are designed to protect public safety and hold law enforcement accountable to the public.”

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.