Former LAFD Chief Crowley files lawsuit against LA, criticizing Bass and handling of Palisades Fire

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, heavily criticizing Mayor Karen Bass and her handling of the Palisades Fire.

Crowley's lawsuit announced Tuesday accuses the mayor of orchestrating "a campaign of retaliation to conceal the extent to which Bass undermined public safety and transparency."

"(Bass) sought to avoid accountability by shifting blame and lying - including falsely claiming that she was not aware of the nationally anticipated weather event, falsely claiming that that the LAFD's budget was not cut, and falsely claiming that LAFD's resources would have supported an additional 1,000 firefighters to fight the blaze - claims contradicted by public records and Bass' own prior statements," the lawsuit states.

In the weeks after the fire, Bass went from supporting Crowley's efforts to blaming her for the fire department's controversial wildfire response. Bass later fired her.

Bass accused Crowley of failing to deploy 1,000 firefighters who "could have been on duty" the morning the fire erupted.

Crowley fought back publicly against that claim, turning the blame on Bass, accusing her of cutting more than $17 million from the fire budget and leaving the department vulnerable.

"Public servants should not face punishment or be silenced for telling the truth about public or firefighter safety and on matters of public importance," Crowley's attorney said in a statement.

The L.A. City Attorney's office does not comment on pending litigation.

A statement from Bass' office called the lawsuit meritless.

"There is nothing new here. Ms. Crowley was removed from her post for her failure to predeploy and her decision to send 1,000 firefighters home instead of keeping them on duty on the morning the fires broke out," Yusef Robb, the mayor's senior advisor, said in the statement.

Crowley last year appealed her removal as chief to the City Council, but the council stood behind Bass, rejecting the appeal in a 13-2 vote.

Crowley was removed as LAFD chief by Bass on Feb. 21, 2025, although Crowley is still with the LAFD as an assistant chief in the Valley Bureau.

City News Service contributed to this report.