Introduction
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Kristin Crowley has issued a statement saying she serves as head of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass takes Crowley as chief effective Friday immediately.
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Bass said the decision was derived from Crowley’s actions on the January wildfires
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Crowley calls her time the chief, “absolute honor.”
Los Angeles – One day after she was fired as Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, he said that in some way it was an “absolute honor” to be the city’s fire department chief.
Beth made the announcement Friday, citing specific instances related to Crowley’s reaction to the Palisade and Eaton fires.
Previous: Mayor Beth removes Kristin Crowley as LAFD chief
Karen Bass Launch LAFD Head Kristin Crowley
We know
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced Friday that she had evacuated LAFD chief Kristin Crowley, effective immediately. In a press conference Friday, Bass said she and Crowley briefly met on Friday before the announcement.
Bass said Crowley’s withdrawal from the position was due to her reaction to the recent Palisades and Eaton fires.
Specifically, Bass called 1,000 firefighters sent home on the day of the fire, Crowley allegedly refused to make a post-action report, which Bass said was “Required Steps” to Investigate the Fire.
We don’t know
It is not clear why Crowley refused to report on the fire.
Karen Bass’s full statement
What are they talking about
The mayor’s office issued a full statement on Friday saying:
“Assessed in the best interest of public safety in Los Angeles, I have taken Kristin Crowley as fire chief for the operation of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Instead, Chief Crowley’s Watch sent one The necessary steps to investigate the fires in Palisades and every day, our firefighters undoubtedly bring new leadership to the fire department.”
Kristin Crowley’s response
Crowley has been released on Saturday since she was removed from office, calling her time as chief a “absolute honor.” Complete statement reading:
“As a despicable civil servant for the past 30 years, with 25 civil servants with LAFD, it is an absolute honor to represent and lead men and women who represent and lead one of the greatest fire departments in the world. As a fire chief, my actions and decisions are for the sake of Take care of our firefighters so they can take care of our community. My career.
Officials criticize dismissal
Several officials opposed the bass decision, most notably the Fire Alliance, City Councilman Monica Rodriguez and businessman Rick Caruso.
UFLAC President Fred Escobar said the league was “angry at the termination of Fire Chief Crowley,” who said Crowley was “appointed as a scapegoat because she was He was fired to tell the truth”
Escobar accused Bass of budget cuts due to lack of engines and fire trucks to deal with the fire.
suggestion: ‘Los Angeles has surpassed the fire department’: LAFD’s 4K personnel efforts serve 4 million people
Rodriguez also opposed the decision, calling Crowley “the most qualified member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department” and encouraged Crowley to appeal the decision.
Caruso, who lost to Beth in the 2022 mayoral election, said he was “disappointed by the decision and called the “victim.”
The other side
Several Los Angeles City Councillors expressed their support for Bass’ decision, including Congress President Marquik Harris Dawson, Councilman Hugo Soto Martinez and Councilman Adrin Nazarian.
Tension between Karen Bass and Kristin Crowley
Background story
For some, Friday’s announcement was not surprising. Since the fire broke out on January 7, Bass and Crowley have been in openly tense relationships.
Crowley objected to her department’s funding and staffing in an interview with Fox 11’s Gigi Graciette on January 10. Crowley acknowledged that the recent budget cuts to the department had negatively impacted LAFD’s ability to put out fires, adding that while LAFD’s call volume has doubled since 2010, the department is now actually Have fewer firefighters.
When asked if the City of Los Angeles failed to fail the LAFD, Crowley said: “Yes.”
Bass says she never warned of the fire
Previous: Karen Bass criticizes LAFD budget cuts $17.6 million in 3-county fire
Karen Bass also faces fierce criticism for handling the situation, especially the fact that she was thousands of miles away from her in Ghana on the day of the fire.
In her first sit-down interview since the fire, she told Fox 11’s Elex Michaelson that Crowley didn’t call her to warn her about the dangers of the weather forecast and said Crowley didn’t complete “normal preparation” for serious seriousness Weather expected in the area.
“This preparation didn’t happen,” Bass said. “If anything. I wouldn’t even go to San Diego, let alone leave the country.”
Bass said it was unclear why she never got any advance notice.
Who will replace Kristin Crowley?
What’s next
On Friday, Bass announced that Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year-old LAFD veteran, will serve as interim director, while her office is looking for a replacement for Crowley .
What’s next for Kristin Crowley?
According to the Mayor Bass office, Crowley exercised her civil servant rights to maintain a low position with the agency. Villanueva will be responsible for assigning responsibilities.
source
The information in this story comes from a statement from former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, an interview with Crowley on January 10, a public statement from city officials and public leaders, to the mayor Karen Bass’ interview, her February 21 press conference and previous Fox 11 report.
