Mayor orders external review of LAPD mental-health response after fatal shootings

Mayor Karen Bass announced an independent evaluation of the Los Angeles Police Department’s approach to mental-health emergencies, calling existing officer training "woefully inadequate." The review will assess the roles of dispatchers, supervisors and front-line officers, focusing on recent fatal shootings of Alejandro Garcia and Canas Zimran, both encountered during mental-health episodes. Bass noted that while specialized units receive extensive crisis training, ordinary patrol officers rely on brief video briefings at roll calls.

The audit will analyze five years of incidents involving individuals with documented mental or behavioral health conditions to pinpoint effective de-escalation tactics and ensure officer well-being. She also urged consideration of sending social workers alongside police and improving training to differentiate mental illness from other impairments. The initiative comes amid a tight mayoral race with challenger Nithya Raman, who also criticizes the department’s handling of such calls.