Overview
- A Los Angeles Times review of seven drafts found key passages were deleted or softened, including language that pre-deployment fell short of policy, a 'failures' section retitled 'primary challenges,' and recommendations cut from 74 to 42.
- The report’s author, Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, was described by sources as upset about changes made without his involvement, and his concerns were relayed to Mayor Karen Bass’ office.
- LAFD declined to discuss the edits, pointing to an ongoing federal case tied to the earlier Lachman fire, for which a former Palisades resident has been charged with arson.
- New Chief Jaime Moore has been assigned to commission an independent investigation, as elected officials press for outside reviews and the department says it has implemented roughly three-quarters of the report’s 42 recommendations.
- Even after revisions, the final report cited disorganized leadership, communication breakdowns, and insufficient resources for Red Flag conditions, renewing questions about preparedness and accountability.