Whistleblower Suit Filed against LAFD

A former high-ranking civilian employee of the Los Angeles City Fire Department has filed suit claiming she was retaliated against and ultimately terminated for reporting misconduct by the department’s two highest-ranking chiefs. Jenny Park served the LAFD in a position known as Fire Administrator. The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in December, but came to light publicly in the midst of the recent devastating wildland (WUI) fires.

Park began her career with LAFD as an assistant city attorney assigned to the department. She was later promoted to a newly created Public Safety Risk Manager position in 2013 with a mandate to reduce the systemic problems that led to millions of taxpayer dollars being wasted in litigation costs and payouts. She was promoted to Public Safety Employee Relations Manager in 2017, and Fire Administrator in 2018. Quoting from the complaint:

  • The Fire Administrator is a civilian Deputy Chief position that reports directly to the Chief Deputy of Administrative Operations.
  • Other than Chief Crowley, Ms. Park was the highest-ranking female in the LAFD and the only female on the Command Staff when she was terminated.
  • As Fire Administrator, Ms. Park oversaw an $800M+ Budget, Revenue, Accounting, Audits, Contracts, EMS Billing and Records, Payroll, Human Resources, Employee/Labor Relations, Litigation, and Risk Management.
  • During her lengthy tenure with the LAFD, Ms. Park was an exemplary employee and a highly regarded member of the Department Command Staff.
  • Ms. Park ably executed her duties in her LAFD positions under four successive Fire Chiefs, all of whom lauded her work and increased her span of authority in recognition of her abilities and contributions.
  • Her success in significantly reducing LAFD payouts was also acknowledged by both the City Attorney’s Office and the City’s Risk Reduction Cabinet.
  • In March 2022, Kristin Crowley was appointed as the LAFD’s first female and gay Fire Chief by then Mayor Eric Garcetti in a closed-door process, i.e., there was no announcement of an upcoming vacancy, no application process, and no invitation for prospective candidates to submit their interest.
  • In February 2023, Chief Crowley named Orin Saunders as her Chief Deputy of Administrative Operations, the second highest ranking position in the Fire Department.
  • Chief Saunders is an African-American, gay male.
  • During Chief Saunders’ command of Administrative Operations, Ms. Park expressed her concerns and complained about numerous decisions and actions of Chief Crowley and Chief Saunders, including but not limited to, Chief Crowley’s ongoing failure to repay the City for a significant overpayment she had received in error; promotions not based on merit and in breach of Civil Service Rules; due process violations and the use of details as de facto punitive action; failure to enforce rules and regulations in a consistent, impartial manner; bad faith engagement in the interactive process for numerous LAFD employees who had requested reasonable accommodation; badgering and neglect of civilian personnel; violations of City contracting procedures and ethics rules, and other protected complaints.
  • Following Ms. Park’s complaints, Chief Crowley and Chief Deputy Saunders began retaliating against Ms. Park by, including but not limited to, removing supervisory functions of Risk Management, Employee Relations, and Human Resources from Ms. Park’s purview; excluding Ms. Park from staff meetings and interview panels; directing Ms. Park’s colleagues to not engage with her; attempting to embarrass Ms. Park in front of other members of the Command Staff and intimidate her into silence; micromanaging Ms. Park’s assignments; criticizing Ms. Park’s concerns and questions; undermining Ms. Park’s command of the Administrative Services Bureau; and, blaming Ms. Park for city-wide problems related to the new payroll system, Workday. Chief Crowley’s and Chief Saunders’ harassment and retaliation caused enormous stress and anxiety for Ms. Park, harming her physical health, mental well-being, and financial security.

Park alleges she filed numerous complaints about the wrongdoing and the retaliatory treatment she received. She was terminated effective February 24, 2024. The complaint alleges whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, and retaliation under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Here is a copy of the complaint:

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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