LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With one year under his belt as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Jim McDonnell shared with Eyewitness News his feelings about the last 12 months packed with deadly fires, federal immigration raids and a presidential deployment of the National Guard to his city.

"It's been a full year," McDonnell said in an exclusive ABC7 interview.

McDonnell took over as police chief on November 8, 2024. Less than two months later, the Palisades Fire broke out, forcing the evacuation of more than 60,000 people and challenging the already depleted police force. At the peak of the fire, LAPD had more than 700 officers a day deployed to the fire zones.

McDonnell, who was still trying to put together his administration, was launched headlong into his first challenge as chie

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