Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has appointed Susan “Sue” Stengel as the new deputy mayor of public safety, effective Monday. Stengel is the third individual to occupy this cabinet position since Mayor Bass took office in December 2022.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the city, occurring less than one month before the start of the World Cup. The transition takes place amid ongoing criticism regarding a spike in police shootings and declining staffing numbers within the Los Angeles Police Department.
Strategic Shift in Leadership
The previous deputy mayor of public safety, Robert Clark, will transition into an unspecified executive role within the city’s Emergency Management Department. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance city preparedness for major events, fires, and earthquakes.
Clark, a former assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s LA Field Office, previously served as the executive director of the Central Texas Public Safety Commission for nine months.
Stengel’s Background and Experience
Susan Stengel brings extensive city government experience to the role, currently serving as the inspector general of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She previously acted as a public safety policy director for former Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti.
Stengel’s professional history also includes roles working with the LAPD, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and former city Councilmember Jack Weiss.
Legacy of the Previous Administration
The leadership turnover follows a legal scandal involving Brian K. Williams, the first person to hold the position in Bass’ cabinet. Williams was placed on administrative leave and later pleaded guilty in May 2025 to making a bomb threat against LA City Hall in October 2024.
According to his plea agreement, Williams used a Google Voice app on his personal phone to make a fake call to his own city-issued phone. He then contacted the LAPD’s chief of staff and sent a text message to the mayor and other leaders, falsely claiming a caller had threatened to place a bomb in the rotunda due to the city’s support of Israel.
While police searched the building, no explosives or suspicious devices were found. Federal prosecutors noted that a motive for the fraudulent threat was not publicly disclosed.
Looking Ahead
The new leadership may face immediate pressure to address the staffing shortages within the LAPD. Stengel’s tenure could be defined by how the city manages security and logistics during the upcoming World Cup.
the reassignment of Robert Clark to the Emergency Management Department may signal a more integrated approach to coordinating responses to natural disasters and large-scale public gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susan “Sue” Stengel?
She is the new deputy mayor for public safety and the current inspector general of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has previously served as a public safety policy director for former Mayors Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa.
What happened to Brian K. Williams?
Williams pleaded guilty in May 2025 to making a bomb threat against LA City Hall in October 2024, which he orchestrated by using a Google Voice app to fake a call to his work phone.
What is the role of the deputy mayor of public safety?
The deputy mayor of public safety is a member of the mayor’s cabinet who oversees the LAPD, LAFD, the Emergency Management Department, the Los Angeles Port Police, and the Los Angeles Airport Police.
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