Bass Names New Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, marking the Third Appointment Since 2022
Los Angeles Mayor Appoints New Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Amid Ongoing Challenges
In a move to address criticism surrounding declining staffing levels in the Los Angeles Police Department and rising incidents of police shootings, Mayor Karen Bass has appointed a new deputy mayor of public safety. This marks the third individual to take on the role since Bass assumed office in December 2022, just weeks before the commencement of the World Cup.
The mayor’s office confirmed on Wednesday that Robert Clark, the outgoing deputy mayor of public safety, will transition to an unspecified executive position within the city’s Emergency Management Department. This change is part of Bass’s initiative to bolster the city’s preparedness for earthquakes, fires, and significant public events.
Clark, who previously served as an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s LA Field Office, was appointed deputy mayor of public safety following a brief tenure as the executive director of the Central Texas Public Safety Commission, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Effective Monday, Susan "Sue" Stengel will step into the role of deputy mayor for public safety. Stengel, currently the inspector general of the Los Angeles Unified School District, has a wealth of experience in public safety policy, having worked for former Mayors Eric Garcetti and Antonio Villaraigosa. Her background also includes various positions within the city, collaborating with former City Councilmember Jack Weiss, the LAPD, and the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The deputy mayor of public safety holds a pivotal position within the mayor’s cabinet, overseeing the LAPD, LAFD, the Emergency Management Department, the Los Angeles Port Police, and the Los Angeles Airport Police.
Clark’s appointment in April 2025 followed a vacancy created when Brian K. Williams, the first individual appointed to this position in Bass’s administration, was placed on administrative leave. Williams later pleaded guilty in May 2025 to making a bomb threat against LA City Hall.
According to court documents, in October 2024, Williams contacted LAPD’s chief of staff with a false report that an unknown individual had threatened to bomb City Hall. Shortly afterward, he sent a text to Mayor Bass and other officials reiterating the hoax.
The text stated: "Bomb threat: I received a phone call on my city cell at 10:48 am this morning. The male caller stated that he was tired of the city support of Israel and has decided to place a bomb in City Hall. It might be in the rotunda." Police conducted a thorough search of the building, finding no explosives or suspicious devices. Federal prosecutors later revealed that Williams himself had initiated the call by using the Google Voice app on his personal phone.
Clark did not respond to a request for comment regarding the changes as of Wednesday evening.
