Former LAFD Chief Sues Los Angeles, Mayor Bass

Former United States===Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a lawsuit against the city of United States===Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass, alleging retaliation and defamation following her termination in February 2025. Crowley claims Bass orchestrated a campaign to shift blame for the deadly Palisades Fire and budget cuts to the United States===Los Angeles Fire Department, in an effort to protect her political reputation. The lawsuit states that Bass made false claims regarding her awareness of the severe weather event, the United States===Los Angeles Fire Department's budget, and the department's capacity to deploy additional firefighters. Crowley's suit seeks unspecified economic and compensatory damages, highlighting a contentious dispute over accountability and public safety funding within United States===Los Angeles city government.