Public Safety Committee confirms Dr. Daniel Taber to Los Angeles Police Commission

The Los Angeles City Public Safety Committee on Jan. 14 approved the mayor’s nomination of Dr. Daniel Taber to the Board of Police Commissioners for a term ending June 30, 2030, by a 3–0 roll‑call vote.

Dr. Taber opened by describing a long history of local public‑service work and said he intends to use the commission’s oversight role to “ask the questions that seek explanations” and to avoid functioning as a “rubber stamp.” He pledged to review trends in officer‑involved shootings and to examine use‑of‑force practices and training, saying the commission must ensure “officers receive the appropriate degree of training” and that de‑escalation tactics are implemented.

Members of the committee pressed Taber on how he would engage the public beyond routine public comment and how he would preserve independence from department staff. Chair Lee asked what “meaningful community input” would look like; Taber said the commission should share clear information about LAPD’s role and opportunities for resident partnership, from neighborhood watch efforts to ride‑alongs, to build relationships “not in crisis but in seeking understanding.”

Councilmember Price described Taber as an “outstanding selection” and said she has known his family for many years. Councilmember Soto Martinez asked whether Taber would be open to graded response models for handling protests; Taber said he has seen such models and would review deployment practices before recommending changes, including the use of non‑militarized or monitored responses where appropriate.

Public commenters offered both support and partisan concerns during the meeting. Several speakers urged careful vetting of commission nominees and raised allegations about outside influence in city programs; others, including leaders of local nonprofits and neighborhood groups, endorsed Taber’s community work and urged the committee to confirm him.

The clerk’s roll call on the appointment recorded council members Lee, Price and Soto Martinez voting in favor; two members were absent. Taber’s appointment will move to the full City Council for final consideration.