Former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley Files Civil Claim Against Mayor Karen Bass

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a civil claim against Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles. The filing, dated August 20, 2025, is a tort claim—a required procedural step before any lawsuit can be brought against a government entity.

According to the 23-page claim, Chief Crowley alleges that Mayor Bass retaliated against her for speaking publicly about budget cuts and resource shortages at the Los Angeles Fire Department. Chief Crowley contends that Bass engaged in a campaign of defamation and retaliation designed to shift blame for the city’s response to the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

Chief Crowley asserts that throughout her tenure as Fire Chief, she repeatedly warned city officials about staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, and budget cuts that, in her view, undermined public safety.

The claim states that despite these warnings, Mayor Bass reduced the LAFD’s operating budget by $17.6 million for fiscal year 2024–2025 and eliminated critical maintenance positions.

Following the Palisades Fire in January 2025—during which Mayor Bass was out of the country—Chief Crowley alleges Bass initially praised the department’s preparedness but later reversed course, publicly blaming Chief Crowley for inadequate staffing and preparedness.

Specific allegations include false statements by Bass that Chief Crowley had refused to conduct an after-action report, sent 1,000 firefighters home who could have been deployed, and misrepresented the department’s budget.

Chief Crowley claims she was removed as Fire Chief on February 21, 2025, and subsequently reassigned to lower-ranking positions within the department. She asserts that the City and Mayor Bass continued to make defamatory statements about her, harming her reputation and career.

The filing seeks damages “in excess of $25,000,” including lost wages and benefits, emotional distress, reputational harm, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.

The claim lists the following causes of action to be pursued if litigation follows:

• Defamation (including defamation per se).
• Retaliation in violation of California Labor Code §§ 98.6, 232.5, 1050 (blacklisting), 1101, 1102, and 1102.5 (whistleblower).
• Retaliation in violation of Article I, §2 of the California Constitution (free speech).
• Retaliation in violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
• Negligence under California common law.

Chief Crowley is represented by attorneys Genie Harrison and Mia Munro of the Genie Harrison Law Firm. Here is a copy of the claim.