The firing of Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley by Mayor Karen Bass could be overturned by the L.A. City Council should Crowley file and win an appeal.
According to the city’s charter, Bass has the authority to remove most department heads, such as the fire chief, without the city council’s approval.
However, Crowley also has the right to file an appeal within “10 calendar days of the removal.”
“The council may reinstate the chief administrative officer by a two-thirds vote of the council,” the city charter states. “Failure of the council to reinstate the chief administrative officer during this time period shall constitute a denial of the appeal.”
L.A. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, representing the city’s 7th district, which includes neighborhoods like Pacoima, Sunland-Tujunga and Sylmar, issued a statement encouraging Crowley to file an appeal.
“Chief Crowley remains the most qualified member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department, and she earned her well-deserved appointment as Fire Chief. I am outraged by the scapegoating revealed by the mayor’s actions,” the statement reads. “I plan to use my authority as a councilmember to set the record straight and encourage Chief Crowley to appeal the mayor’s baseless termination to the City Council. The public deserves a full account of every single leadership failure that has taken place.”
Former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso also issued a statement on social media opposing the mayor’s decision.
In the meantime, Bass has appointed retired LAFD Deputy Chief Ronnie Villanueva to serve as interim fire chief.
Villanueva has served in various positions throughout the Department, with “decades of experience in fire suppression, emergency management, and the management of thousands of operational and support members of the LAFD.” He retired from LAFD only seven months ago.
Bass said a national search would take place to find a permanent replacement to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department with “input” from firefighters and L.A. residents about what they would like to see in the next chief.
