Former Los Angeles Hearth Chief Kristin Crowley has began the enchantment course of following Mayor Karen Bass’ choice to fireside her every week in the past.
Her choice to enchantment comes after Bass’ choice has spun up criticism from Metropolis Councilmembers and the general public for what they are saying is “misrepresenting the details.”
Crowley introduced the enchantment to Metropolis Council members on Thursday.
“I select to proceed with the Council enchantment supplied for in Los Angeles Constitution, Article V, Part 5.08(e), resulting from Mayor Bass’s removing of me, on February 21, 2025, from the place of Hearth Chief of the Los Angeles Metropolis Hearth Division,” learn Crowley’s be aware. “I stay up for listening to from you about subsequent steps, if any.”
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Los Angeles Hearth Division Chief Kristin Crowley talks throughout a information convention at Harbor–UCLA Medical Heart within the West Carson space of Los Angeles on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (Richard Vogel/AP)
Bass introduced that she was firing Crowley after final month’s devastating Palisades Hearth and appointing former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran, as interim hearth chief. She mentioned it was in one of the best curiosity of Los Angeles.
“Performing in one of the best pursuits of Los Angeles’ public security, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Hearth Division, I’ve eliminated Kristin Crowley as Hearth Chief. We all know that 1,000 firefighters that might have been on responsibility on the morning the fires broke out have been as a substitute despatched dwelling on Chief Crowley’s watch. Moreover, a mandatory step to an investigation was the President of the Hearth Fee telling Chief Crowley to do an after motion report on the fires. The Chief refused. These require her removing. The heroism of our firefighters – throughout the Palisades fire and each single day – is with out query. Bringing new management to the hearth division is what our metropolis wants.”
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson added the enchantment on the agenda hours after Crowley’s announcement to be mentioned at a particular council assembly Friday at 5 p.m.
Her choice to enchantment comes after Bass’ choice has spun up criticism from Metropolis Councilmembers and the general public for what they are saying is “misrepresenting the details.” (United Firefighters of Los Angeles Metropolis, IAFF Native 112)
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United Firefighters of Los Angeles Metropolis Native 112, the union that represents metropolis firefighters and are supporters of Crowley, mentioned in a publish to Fb it was outrageous to schedule, with solely 24-hour discover, a “Particular Assembly” to listen to Chief Crowley’s enchantment.
“That is an instance of why the general public doesn’t belief Metropolis Corridor and the fixed missteps that we now have seen our metropolis leaders make for the reason that fires broke out on January seventh. This isn’t clear, honest, or simply. It’s one more public blunder popping out of Metropolis Corridor that makes the individuals of Los Angeles proceed to query the motives and trustworthiness of our metropolis’s leaders,” the publish mentioned.
The union went on to say that they imagine the explanations she was terminated have been manufactured and, in actuality, Crowley was fired for telling the reality.
“Our rank-and-file firefighters on the bottom strongly help Chief Crowley. They know the reality, we now have her again, and we are going to combat for her proper to set the document straight,” they mentioned.
“That is the primary Metropolis Council assembly that we’re conscious of, maybe ever, that has been scheduled on 24-hour discover for a Friday at 5:00 pm. It’s apparent that some on the Metropolis Council try to bury this subject when no person is watching and holding them accountable. Metropolis Council Members must ask themselves if that is the best way they wish to resolve the destiny of our Hearth Chief. What’s taking place is flawed, and everybody is aware of it.”
From proper, Mayor Karen Bass and Chief Restoration Officer Steve Soboroff talk about restoration efforts throughout a press convention in Pacific Palisades on Monday, January 27, 2025. (Drew A. Kelley/MediaNews Group/Lengthy Seaside Press-Telegram by way of Getty Photos)
Crowley’s enchantment would require a vote of at the least 10 of 15 members in her favor. It stays unclear how the vote will go as 4 council members stood behind Bass throughout the press convention as she introduced the choice to take away Crowley.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield believes it’s within the mayor’s proper to rent and hearth whom she needs.
“She must have the complete confidence of her normal managers and her chiefs. If she has misplaced that confidence, she has each proper to alter out the pinnacle of a division” or hearth chief, he mentioned earlier this week.
The Los Angeles City Charter permits the mayor the flexibility to take away most office heads, together with the hearth chief, with out council approval.
The constitution additionally provides the fired worker the appropriate to enchantment the choice to the council with the opportunity of reinstatement.
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The Metropolis Council has 10 assembly days to behave on Crowley’s submitting, per the constitution.
