McDonald become chief, but he left the decision up the Police Commission, which decided to base the appointment on merit.

In 1939, Mayor Bowron, a reformer who had closed down 600 bordellos in L.A. after assuming office in a drive against corruption, and his Police Commission had all the extant promotion lists jettisoned and new round of testing implemented.

During his time as chief, he created a new headquarters division, which he himself personally oversaw with Captain McDonald as his administrative officer.

He was succeeded by Clemence B. Horrall on June 16, 1941, after he voluntarily took a demotion to deputy chief after he had become ensnared in a police corruption trial that had embarrassed Mayor Fletcher Bowron.

[2] Horrall had become chief when Hohman, under pressure from Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron, stepped down.