Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass abruptly fired controversial LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley on Friday, the city said in a statement.
The abrupt removal of the fire chief comes on the heel of rampant wildfires that ripped through the city in recent weeks.
Bass has faced extreme criticism for both being abroad in the days leading up to the fires rather than dealing with matters at home in LA, and for appointing Crowley, a lesbian woman, as fire chief. There were widespread speculations that she was hired based on the city’s DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) agenda.
Bass is expected to hold a press conference on Crowley’s dismissal Friday afternoon.
“Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as fire chief,” said Bass in the statement, per NBC LA.
“We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch. Furthermore, a necessary step to an investigation was the president of the fire commission telling Chief Crowley to do an after action report on the fires.”
“The Chief refused. These require her removal. The heroism of our firefighters – during the Palisades fire and every single day – is without question. Bringing new leadership to the Fire Department is what our city needs.”
Former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, who has served the LAFD for 41 years, will step in as interim chief.
