LAFD Asst. Chief Kepner Was Accused of Brutal Domestic Violence, Assault With Butcher Knife - Judge Dismissed
Kristina Kepner, the assistant chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, faced allegations of domestic violence in a legal claim that was later dismissed. The case resurfaced amid widespread criticism of the department’s leadership following massive fires in Los Angeles.
According to a January 23 report from the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Kepner, who identifies as a lesbian, allegedly pursued her former partner while wielding a large kitchen knife and wrote a suicide note after harming herself.
Court documents from November 2021 alleged that Kepner “lunged” at her ex-partner, placed her in a headlock, knocked her down, and forcibly kissed her.
Later that same day, she was also accused of brandishing a “large butcher knife,” pressing it against her own “neck and chest threatening to stab herself in the heart or neck,” and writing a suicide note.
“The alleged threats and attempted strangling were caught on video, the court documents claimed,” according to the Daily Mail.
In response to these allegations, Kepner told the Daily Mail that her former partner had “orchestrated a campaign to attempt to ruin my career.”
Her attorney, John Fowler, stated that Kepner had been “exonerated in multiple forums,” including investigations by the fire department, police department, and district attorney’s office.
A judge officially dismissed the claims in February 2022.
Kepner, in her own legal filings, asserted that her ex fabricated the allegations and had actually been the aggressor. The ex-partner, however, denied these claims.
Although the Daily Mail did not disclose the ex-partner’s name, it quoted her as saying she had contacted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, informing her: “I have it on video, that Kady threatened to kill me — she attacked me.”
The ex further alleged that Crowley, who also identifies as a lesbian, and Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass concealed the accusations against Kepner.
The Daily Mail reported that Kepner was slated for a promotion to lead one of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s four bureaus, but that the promotion was revoked after a local journalist publicized the domestic violence allegations in March 2023.
“Two weeks later the guys in the department were telling me that she’s no longer to be a deputy chief,” the ex-partner told the Daily Mail.
“I’m sure Karen Bass called Kristin Crowley like, ‘what the f*** is this?’ Then two weeks later Kady gets demoted,” she added, referring to the alleged reversal of the promotion.
“Bass and Crowley definitely covered that up,” the ex claimed.
The renewed attention to these domestic violence allegations coincided with the fallout from devastating fires that destroyed homes and businesses across Los Angeles.
Many conservatives pointed out that prior to the disaster, the Los Angeles Fire Department and other city leaders had been focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Critics of such policies argue that they divert attention from core responsibilities and hinder the selection of the most qualified individuals for leadership roles.