LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Kristin Crowley is making history in Los Angeles. The deputy fire chief was unanimously approved this week to become the first female fire chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department in 135 years. She will begin her official duties later this month, when Chief Ralph Terrazas retires.
As Crowley steps in, one of the questions on the minds of many Angeleno’s is, can Crowley fix the cultural problems that exist in the department? Last October a group of female firefighters claimed Chief Terrazas ignored reports of abuse, and last August, the department faced allegations of cover ups. Crowley joined KNX In Depth to share what she has planned as she goes into the job as the first female chief.
“When it comes to the work environment I'm paying really close attention. I’d be a fool not to. When it comes to people within our organization, the women…we’re only at about 3.5% out of our 3,400 firefighters,” Crowley said, referring to the 56% of women in the department who said in a survey that they’d experience either bullying or harassment.
“The expectation for me, coming from the top down, is that each and every member understands how we’re supposed to treat one another and, if someone does step out of line, that that individual will be held accountable for their actions.”
Crowley said her top three priorities as she assumes her role as chief are to ensure her department is operationally ready when the community needs them, to implement and promote firefighter wellbeing, both generally and mentally, and to make sure that everyone in the LAFD work environment feels safe and part of a cohesive team.
“First and foremost, I think every human being understands the proper way to treat another person and being a woman on the job and working my way up through the ranks, you know there was always that question, ‘well hey, can she do the job?’” Crowley said, explaining how she held her ground when questioned or treated differently for being a woman.
“Reflecting back…I’ve had issues…the issues were smaller, but I had to address them. I had the opportunity, and I took the opportunity, to make sure that if somebody did step out of line, did something that was inappropriate…whatever that may be, that I did address that person.”
When asked why she thinks the treatment in the firefighting workplace can be different for women, she said it’s something she hopes to dig into as there is “absolutely zero place” for mistreatment in the LAFD, let alone any work environment.
As she spoke with KNX Crowley made a major push for applications, as the department is currently hiring and windows will close on June 15.
Acknowledging that thousands of people apply for roles in the department, she said, “we are looking for those highly qualified candidates who bring that core value attitude of ‘life of service above self.’”
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