Mayor Bass selects longtime LAFD leader to head department

"A longtime Los Angeles Fire Department leader who is currently the head of the agency's Valley operations will become the department's new chief, Mayor Karen Bass confirmed Friday. Jaime Moore, currently a deputy chief, will take the reins after a lengthy, nationwide search during which the mayor interviewed fire chiefs of other major cities. Bass also visited firehouses, hearing from firefighters on what they were looking for in a chief."

""Jaime Moore is a proven and admired firefighter and executive who will urgently advance an agenda of reform to better prepare LA for major emergencies and upcoming world events, and to improve responses to 911 calls citywide," Bass said in a statement to The Times. Moore is a Los Angeles native. The 30-year LAFD veteran grew up speaking Spanish and English, and has said he is proud of his Latino background."

"Moore calls himself a "progressive" fire service leader in his LAFD bio. "Chief Moore... advocates education, the importance of knowing your job, and promotes empathy towards others and kindness to all," his bio reads. Moore has worked as a public information officer and also as the head of the department's FireStatLA bureau, overseeing performance management at the department. He also helped create the LAFD's Equity and Human Resources bureau and has said he is dedicated to improving diversity, equity and inclusion at the fire department."

Jaime Moore, a 30-year Los Angeles Fire Department veteran and current head of Valley operations, will become the department's new chief after a lengthy nationwide search that included interviews with other major-city fire chiefs and visits to firehouses. Moore is bilingual, proud of his Latino background, and holds a sociology degree from UCLA and a master's in Public Administration from Cal State Long Beach. He identifies as a progressive leader, has served as a public information officer, led FireStatLA for performance management, and helped create the Equity and Human Resources bureau with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The appointment follows significant department changes after the Palisades fire.

Read at Los Angeles Times