Kristin Crowley appeals LA mayor’s decision to terminate her as LAFD chief
Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has initiated the appeal process in response to Mayor Karen Bass’ decision to terminate her from her position a week ago. The move to appeal comes after Mayor Bass’ decision sparked criticism from City Council members and the public, who allege that the facts have been misrepresented.
Crowley formally announced her decision to appeal to City Council members on Thursday, citing the Los Angeles Charter, Article V, Section 5.08(e), as the basis for her appeal. In her note, she expressed her eagerness to discuss next steps with the council members.
Mayor Bass announced Crowley’s termination following the Palisades Fire last month and appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva as interim fire chief. She stated that the decision was made in the best interest of Los Angeles, emphasizing the need for new leadership within the fire department.
City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson promptly added Crowley’s appeal to the agenda for a special council meeting scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, the union representing city firefighters and supporters of Crowley, took to Facebook to express their outrage over the short notice given for the meeting, labeling it as non-transparent, unfair, and unjust.
The union maintained that they believe Crowley was terminated for speaking the truth and that the reasons provided for her termination were fabricated. They pledged their support for Crowley and vowed to fight for her right to present the facts.
Crowley’s appeal will require the support of at least 10 out of 15 council members to be successful. While four council members stood by Mayor Bass during the announcement of Crowley’s termination, the outcome of the vote remains uncertain.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield defended Mayor Bass’ decision, stating that she has the authority to hire and fire department heads as she sees fit. The Los Angeles City Charter permits the mayor to remove department heads, including the fire chief, without council approval, but also grants the fired employee the right to appeal the decision to the council for possible reinstatement.
The City Council now has 10 meeting days to deliberate on Crowley’s appeal, as outlined in the charter. The decision will determine whether Crowley will be reinstated as the Fire Chief of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
