Leaked reports have surfaced, revealing that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered the LAPD to stand down during riots, overriding emergency protocols and blocking police from assisting federal officers. The allegations suggest that Bass ignored calls for reinforcements, preventing the LAPD’s Incident Commander from deploying aid to overwhelmed federal agents.
The reports detail a direct intervention by Bass, bypassing established emergency response procedures. Instead of allowing law enforcement to act, she allegedly called the Incident Commander for a briefing, then instructed the Chief of Police on how to proceed, effectively taking control of operations. This move violated the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and National Incident Management System protocols, disrupting the chain of command.