Former longtime employee of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Jenny Park, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, alleging retaliation and harassment after speaking out about misconduct by Fire Chief Kristin Crowley and other top officials. Park claims she was fired for raising concerns about Crowley’s nepotism, bullying, and refusal to return $37,000 paid to her in error, as well as another official’s conflict of interest in awarding a contract.
According to Park, Crowley and Deputy Chief Orin Saunders ran the department like a personal clubhouse, handing out promotions based on favoritism and bullying those they did not like. Park alleges that after raising concerns internally and to city officials, she was subjected to isolation, bullying, and intimidation. Crowley terminated Park’s employment just before Christmas of 2023.
Park’s attorney, Shannon H.P. Ward, accused Chief Crowley of mismanagement and a failure to take responsibility for the department’s problems, stating that she retaliated against those who spoke out. The Los Angeles Fire Department has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
This lawsuit adds to the controversy surrounding the LAFD’s leadership during the ongoing wildfires in California, which are the most expensive in state history. Park had been a civilian employee of the fire department for over ten years, with plans to stay for the rest of her career before her termination. Her attorney described the firing as a carefully planned scheme involving character assassination.
Source
Photo credit nypost.com
