In their letter, the group - Los Angeles Women in the Fire Service - described the harassment of women and minority firefighters.
In October, a group of women firefighters sent a letter to Garcetti demanding that Terrazas step down after he “has ignored, downplayed, denied or actively obstructed any investigation into the cultural problems with LAFD.” They accused the Fire Department of being run by a “good old white boys club.” Last June, six Black firefighters sued the city alleging they were subjected to retaliation and abuse. The department also is facing intense criticism, and at least one lawsuit, from former and current firefighters who alleged a culture of harassment, bullying and discrimination. Union leaders for the city’s firefighters say morale is at an all-time low from overwork and the stresses of the pandemic. As much as 16% of the Fire Department remains unvaccinated, according to figures the city released earlier this month. If the City Council confirms her, Crowley will take over a fire department reeling not only from more than two years of being on the front line of a deadly pandemic, but also several controversies.Īdding to the chaos, the department put more than 100 firefighters on paid leave who have refused to comply with the city’s vaccination mandate. “It’s a perspective that we’ve never had.” “I just think it’s a unique perspective,” Crowley said of what she will bring to the department as its likely first woman chief. And she’d be taking command of an organization that remains deeply stratified along gender lines: Just 3% of the department’s firefighters are women. She would be the first woman to lead the department in its 135-year history.
The outgoing mayor cited Crowley’s experience and her “exceptional character” as he nominated her to become the city’s next fire chief after current Chief Ralph Terrazas retires March 26 after 38 years. “Captain one, captain two, battalion chief, assistant chief, deputy chief and acting fire marshal.” “She’s served as a firefighter, a paramedic, an engineer, a fire inspector,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, listing her accomplishments Tuesday outside the Fire Department’s training center in Chavez Ravine. Kristin Crowley has worked nearly every job in the Los Angeles Fire Department over the last two decades.
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