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Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley was named in a lawsuit filed by a former longtime employee who said she spoke up about months of egregious misconduct by the chief and another top official — and was harassed and fired in retaliation.

The suit, filed against the city of Los Angeles, adds to an inferno of controversy over Crowley and other officials’ leadership amid the most expensive wildfires in California history.

Former LAFD Fire Administrator Jenny Park, a civilian employee of more than ten years, claims she got the axe after raising concerns about Crowley’s habitual misconduct since she took the top spot in 2022, which included nepotism, bullying, and a refusal to return $37,000 paid to her in error, the court filing alleges.


  Ex-LAFD administrator Jenny Park (left) claims she was harassed then fired for exposing misconduct. LAFD Photo / Gary Apodaca Ex-LAFD administrator Jenny Park (left) claims she was harassed then fired for exposing misconduct. LAFD Photo / Gary Apodaca

  LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley is accused of favoritism, bullying, and financial misconduct. AP LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley is accused of favoritism, bullying, and financial misconduct. AP

Park also alerted city officials when another high-ranking official, Deputy Chief Orin Saunders allegedly awarded a lucrative contract that carried a conflict of interest.

Crowley and Saunders raked in $654,000 and $576,000, respectively, in pay and benefits that year, according to department records provided to Transparent California.

The pair allegedly ran the department like their personal clubhouse, handing out promotions that were not based on merit, giving special treatment to people they personally liked – and bullying those they didn’t.


  Park alleges Crowley worked to isolate, demean, and humiliate her among her colleagues before firing her. LAFD Photo / Gary Apodaca Park alleges Crowley worked to isolate, demean, and humiliate her among her colleagues before firing her. LAFD Photo / Gary Apodaca

Park claims she first brought up the issues to Crowley and Saunders directly, then complained to city officials who did nothing to address the problems.

Instead, Crowley and Saunders did their best to bully, isolate and “intimidate her into silence,” smearing her behind her back, excluding her from panels and events, and openly humiliating her in front of her colleagues, the court filing alleges.

Crowley finally notified Park of her termination just before Christmas of 2023 – ousting the department’s highest-ranking woman and Asian-American employee in one stroke.


  Park (right) also named Orin Saunders (left) in the suit, claiming he retaliated when she called attention to an improperly awarded contract. X / @LAFDwest Park (right) also named Orin Saunders (left) in the suit, claiming he retaliated when she called attention to an improperly awarded contract. X / @LAFDwest

“Chief Crowley’s mismanagement, finger-pointing, and refusal to take responsibility are at the heart of the problems within the department right now. Instead of focusing on improving public safety, she has surrounded herself with people who tell her what she wants to hear, while retaliating against those who speak out,” said Park’s attorney, Shannon H.P. Ward, in a statement.

The Los Angeles Fire Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Park had joined the fire department as a civilian in 2013 after serving as a deputy attorney for the city.

She loved her job, quickly rose through the ranks, and had planned to stay for the rest of her career, Park’s attorney Martin Aarons told the Mail.

Aarons described Park’s firing as a carefully planned scheme that involved months of undermining and character assassination.


  Park’s suit is one of many scandals facing LAFD as the most expensive fires in California history burn on. AFP via Getty Images Park’s suit is one of many scandals facing LAFD as the most expensive fires in California history burn on. AFP via Getty Images

He said such moves have been part of her standard playbook since taking the top job in 2022 – after her predecessor resigned amid his own firestorm of scandal.

“After Chief Crowley started, over the course of the next 18 months it became clear that if you didn’t go along with what she wanted to do then you were all of a sudden persona non grata,” Aarons told the Mail.

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