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Rasha Shields / Board of Police Commissioners / Commission Appointment

Council File 23-1200-S8

Under review — Rasha Shields' reappointment to the Police Commission is pending committee approval after being referred in August 2026. She's completed her first term as Board President and needs ethics clearance before the full Council can vote on her new five-year term.

Introduced
2023-02-10
Last changed
2026-08-26
Status
open
Expires
2028-08-26
Committee
Public Safety Committee
Initiated by
Mayor

Brief

The Mayor nominated Rasha Shields to fill a vacancy on the Board of Police Commissioners created by Dale Bonner's resignation. The Public Safety Committee approved the appointment on March 14, 2023, and the full Council adopted it unanimously (12-0-3) on March 22, 2023, with Ms. Shields' term set to end June 30, 2026. A follow-up document was submitted by the Mayor and referred to the Public Safety Committee on August 5, 2026, with no further action recorded.

Full summary

In February 2023, Mayor Karen Bass nominated Rasha Shields to the Board of Police Commissioners to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Dale Bonner, with Shields' initial term set to run through June 30, 2026. The Public Safety Committee approved the appointment on March 14, 2023, and the full Council confirmed it 12-0 on March 22, 2023. Shields served her first term as a commissioner and rose to a leadership role, serving as Vice President from 2023 to 2025 and then as President of the Board. On August 4, 2026, shortly after her original term expired on June 30, 2026, Mayor Bass submitted a reappointment nominating Shields to a new term ending June 30, 2031. In her transmittal letter, Bass certified that Shields is "especially qualified by reason of training and experience" and that the appointment is made "solely in the interest of the City." Shields is a partner at Jones Day specializing in complex civil litigation, government investigations, and corporate compliance. She holds a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and previously served as a Deputy Chief in the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division, where she directed federal and local law enforcement agencies in grand jury and wiretap investigations. She has also been appointed to the California Supreme Court and Appellate Bias Prevention Committee and has extensive pro bono and community leadership credentials, including past leadership of the Arab American Lawyers Association of Southern California. The reappointment was referred to the Public Safety Committee on August 5, 2026, where it remains pending. Before Council can act, Shields must complete standard pre-confirmation steps including an ethics clearance filing with the City Ethics Commission. The nominee checklist indicates she may meet with Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, her district representative, and Councilmember John Lee, who chairs the Public Safety Committee.

Activity (12)

  • 2026-08-26 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-08-21 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 26, 2026.
  • 2026-08-14 Community Impact Statement submitted by Winnetka Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-08-05 Mayor document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee.
  • 2026-08-04 Document submitted by Mayor, dated August 4, 2026.
  • 2023-03-22 Council action final.
  • 2023-03-22 Council adopted item forthwith.
  • 2023-03-17 Council scheduled item for Council on March 22, 2023.
  • 2023-03-14 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2023-03-10 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on March 14, 2023.
  • 2023-02-10 Mayor document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee.
  • 2023-02-10 Document(s) submitted by Mayor, as follows:Mayor report, dated February 10, 2023, relative to the appointment of Rasha Shields to the Board of Police Commissioners, for the term ending June 30, 2026. Ms. Shields will fill the vacancy created by Dale Bonner, whose resignation will be deemed effective upon the swearing-in of Ms. Shields.

Documents (10)

Council votes (1)

  • 2023-03-22 Vote — 12-0-3 · Regular

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