"EXCLUSIVE: Top Bass Candidate for LAFD Chief Retires Amid Sexual Harassment Investigation" by Daniel Guss
2021 Firefighter of the Year was on path to Chief gig until security footage allegedly extinguished his candidacy.
City Hall sources allege that what may have led to Hogan’s downfall is footage from several of the thousands of security cameras in its offices rumored to have captured “unwanted physical contact,” in addition to other types of harassment.
In another example of government sandbagging, the LAFD waited until 6:37pm last Friday, January 20th, before a spokesperson emailed a response to my media inquiry that Hogan, who had been named 2021 Firefighter of the Year, had retired, effective January 17, 2023. The email went on to say that current LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley would not provide any further information because its investigation remains active, even after Hogan’s retirement.
Back on October 16th, The Guss Report exclusively shared tips from deep within LA City Hall that a high-ranking member of the LAFD brass who was both a donor and fundraiser for then-mayoral candidate Karen Bass, was sitting at home while under investigation for at least one sexual harassment claim filed by a married high-visibility civilian within the agency.
As the subject got a swirl of attention on the anonymous Instagram page of LAFDWatchdog, Crowley acknowledged exclusively to The Guss Report that such an investigation was, indeed, underway:
“The Department was made aware of allegations of misconduct and directed an investigation be conducted. The subject member is currently on paid administrative leave during the course of the investigation. As this is an active investigation, the Department will not comment further.” - LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley
That didn’t stop LA City Council from censoring this column’s inquiries about the investigation. For all of its chatter about transparency and equality in the wake of its ongoing racism and corruption scandals, its president Paul Krekorian and deputy city attorney Strefan Fauble once again abused the public’s right to know what’s going on in its government, as well as my efforts to ask direct questions in the public forum, which is a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
With a city-wide election around the corner at the time, Krekorian, Fauble and others protected its chosen candidates over truth, transparency and the law.
According to Transparent California’s most recently reported records, Hogan raked in $505,906.73 in salary and benefits in 2021. According to nominating forms from Los Angeles City Firefighters Association (LAFFA), the Firefighter of the Year Award he received that year is vaguely described as recognizing, “members that have gone above and beyond the call of duty for our members.”
Hogan has held a series of largely administrative positions within the LAFD in recent years.
In addition to the loss of stature, the 40-year LAFD veteran will also lose at least a year of salary and benefits paid into the controversial DROP program, which further inflates salaries as some city employees approach retirement.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who chairs its Public Safety Committee, has repeatedly dodged questions about sexual harassment within the LAFD and LAPD, including regarding the Hogan matter.
Some sources say that Hogan is related to a current LAFD firefighter who was recently sanctioned $750 in his ongoing lawsuit against the agency for racial discrimination and harassment. The LAFD denies knowing about any relationship that may exist between them.
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(Daniel Guss, MBA, was nominated for three 2022 LA Press Club awards and was a runner-up in 2021 and 2020. He is City Editor for Mayor Sam, and has been a featured contributor for CityWatchLA, KFI AM-640, iHeartMedia, 790-KABC, Cumulus Media, KCRW 89.9 FM, KRLA 870 AM, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal, Pasadena Star-News, Los Angeles Downtown News and the Los Angeles Times in its sports, opinion, entertainment and Sunday Magazine sections among other publishers.)