Ben Welsh

News

Next L.A. Fire Chief to Face Multiple Challenges

12/02/2013

Beyond the department's well-known emergency response-time issues, it also faces costly complaints of race and sex discrimination.

Beyond the department's...

12/02/2013

EMSWorld

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Mayor`s Plan to Diversify LAFD Ranks Not Working

11/17/2015

Ben Welsh ;

New data show that the first four classes of recruits hired under the rebooted system have fallen far short of the numbers needed to achieve increased diversity

New data show that the first...

11/17/2015

EMSWorld

News

L.A. City Council Reverses Fire Dept. Staffing Shift

05/08/2013

Ben Welsh ;

David Zahniser ;

Kate Linthicum ;

Los Angeles officials have appropriated $1.6M to reverse a controversial staffing plan that removed firefighters from engines to work on ambulances.

Los Angeles officials have...

05/08/2013

EMSWorld

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New Anti-nepotism Rules in Wake of LAFD Hiring Controversy

09/24/2014

Ben Welsh ;

The changes will require all LAFD officials involved in the selection process to notify superiors when they have a friend or family member in the applicant pool.

The changes will require all...

09/24/2014

EMSWorld

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L.A. Fire Department`s Internal Watchdog Removed

10/19/2013

Ben Welsh ;

The dismissal is the latest in a series of changes at the LAFD, including the stepping down of former Fire Chief Brian Cummings.

The dismissal is the latest in a...

10/19/2013

EMSWorld

News

Confidential L.A. County Audit Another Blow to Compton Fire Department

07/14/2015

Ben Welsh ;

The audit criticized Compton paramedics for failing to complete nearly a dozen different types of medical records after delivering emergency care.

The audit criticized Compton...

07/14/2015

EMSWorld

News

LAFD Chief to Shift Firefighters to Ambulances

04/17/2013

Ben Welsh ;

Robert J. Lopez ;

Kate Linthicum ;

The reassignment of dozens of firefighters to improve 911 response times drew immediate opposition from labor groups.

The reassignment of dozens of...

04/17/2013

EMSWorld

News

Calif. Investigate LAFD Hiring Process after White Applicant Alleges Bias

09/24/2014

Ben Welsh ;

In July, city officials introduced a lottery system to winnow a pool of thousands of applicants for spots in a new recruit class scheduled to begin in December.

In July, city officials...

09/24/2014

EMSWorld

News

LAFD Chief Resigns in Response-Time Fallout

10/11/2013

Ben Welsh ;

David Zahniser ;

Michael Finnegan ;

Chief Brian Cummings never fully recovered from the revelation that the department's highly touted 911 response times were inaccurate.

Chief Brian Cummings never fully...

10/11/2013

EMSWorld

News

Compton fire chief put on administrative leave following Times reports

07/08/2015

Ben Welsh ;

July 07--Compton Fire Chief Jon Thompson was put on administrative leave Tuesday following a series of Times reports on shortcomings at the fire agency. City Manager Johnny Ford said he had notified Thompson that he was relieved of...

July 07--Compton Fire Chief...

07/08/2015

EMSWorld