One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Kristin Crowley Will Be LA's First Female And Openly Gay Fire Chief
Then LAFD Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley attends The 2019 MAKERS Conference at Monarch Beach Resort on Feb. 7, 2019 in Dana Point.
(
Rachel Murray
/
Getty Images
)
Kristin Crowley will officially lead the Los Angeles Fire Department after the city council unanimously approved her appointment on Tuesday.
Crowley is not only L.A.'s first female fire chief; she's the department's first openly gay leader.
She says her priorities will include promoting a "work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination and hazing." On top of maintaining firefighters' safety, health and overall well-being.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center calls the appointment a "historic confirmation."
"Crowley now joins a handful of pioneering LGBTQ fire chiefs nationwide who are out and proud, and we salute her for being an LGBTQ role model who has been making a positive contribution to our city," the center said in a statement.
Crowley is a 22-year department veteran who's currently a deputy chief. She'll take over when the current leader, Ralph Terrazas, retires in late March.
"There are opportunities for growth, innovations, accountability and the creation of systemic equity and inclusion across the LAFD," Crowley said. "I am ready, willing and able to lead our great organization into the future."
Sponsored message
For decades, several female LAFD firefighters say they encountered cruel pranks, sexual harassment and, in a few cases, assault.
In October of last year, female firefighters called for Terrazas to step down, accusing him of "a pervasive racist and sexist culture" within the LAFD and his failure to address it.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti defended Terrazas, saying he'd done "an excellent job leading and rebuilding (the) department." Garcetti nominated Crowley in January when he announced that Terrazas would be stepping down.
Crowley's confirmation took place on the first day of women's history month. She was the city's first female fire marshal. Now she'll be L.A.'s first fire chief.
"And as we build this next generation, a new era of the LAFD together, there are opportunities for growth, innovations, accountability and the creation of systemic equity and inclusion across the LAFD," she said.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
