L.A. Fire Chief Accuses Mayor Bass of Defamation
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A Firestorm of Accusations: Former LA Fire Chief Sues Mayor Bass, Alleging Retaliation and Cover-Up
Los Angeles, CA - kristen Crowley, the former chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, has filed a legal claim against the city and Mayor Karen Bass, alleging a deliberate campaign of misinformation, defamation, and retaliation. The claim, a precursor to a potential lawsuit, accuses Bass of using Crowley as a “scapegoat” following the devastating fires that impacted the region in January.
Crowley seeks unspecified damages exceeding $25,000 for lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, and damage to her professional reputation. The 23-page filing details Crowley’s repeated warnings about the LAFD’s worsening resource and staffing crisis. She alleges that she submitted reports outlining how aging infrastructure, a surge in emergency calls, and dwindling staff numbers were putting Los angeles at risk. Despite these warnings, the filing claims, Mayor Bass and her administration cut the fire department’s operating budget by $17.6 million, and “eliminated positions critical to maintaining fire engines, trucks, and ambulances.”
the mayor’s counsel, David Michaelson, stated that Bass would not comment on the “ongoing personnel claim,” adding that she is currently focused on “preparations for the hottest temperatures of the year and the potential for regional fire danger.”
Crowley’s claim extends beyond the budget cuts, alleging that bass, the city, and its employees “allowed, permitted, incited, excused, and otherwise ratified the aforesaid misconduct.” She is demanding that bass retract her “false statements about Crowley,” issue a public apology, and cease any ongoing retaliation.
In a statement, Crowley herself declared, “The lies, deceit, exaggerations and misrepresentations need to be addressed with the only thing that can refute them – the true facts.” She continued, “Doing the right thing even when it is indeed hard, is always the right decision and that is why I am continuing to fight for the resources our Firefighters need to keep us all safe.”
Genie Harrison, Crowley’s lawyer, echoed this sentiment, stating that the claim “shows Mayor Bass’ repeated refusals to provide those resources. The citizens of Los angeles deserve to know the truth about how underresourced the LAFD has become and how that came to be.”
As Los Angeles continues to grapple with the aftermath of the January fires and prepares for a potentially hazardous heat wave, the accusations leveled by Crowley raise serious questions about the city’s priorities and the well-being of its first responders. The situation underscores the critical need for adequate funding and staffing to ensure the safety of both firefighters and the community they serve.