Judge Upheld Los Angeles Fire Department Reprimand

A Superior Court judge ruled that the fire department acted appropriately in disciplining firefighter Adin Waldrep.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a monolithic urban fire station facade, evoking a legal ruling on municipal personnel policy. — A Los Angeles Superior Court judge upheld an official reprimand issued by the Los Angeles Fire Department to firefighter Adin Waldrep. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Judge Tiana J. Murillo declined to set aside an official reprimand issued by the Los Angeles Fire Department against firefighter Adin Waldrep. The judge concluded that the department did not abuse its discretion in its handling of the disciplinary matter.

Why it matters

The ruling underscores the legal limits of challenging internal disciplinary actions and personnel decisions within municipal departments. It confirms that courts may deem evidence regarding penalties issued to other employees as irrelevant to individual misconduct findings.

Firefighter Adin Waldrep, 39, served a suspension of approximately 700 days following his refusal of a coronavirus vaccination. The department eventually accepted his exemption request and returned him to paid active duty.

The players

Adin Waldrep

He is a 39-year-old firefighter who has been with the Los Angeles Fire Department since 2006.

Tiana J. Murillo

She is a judge presiding over the Los Angeles Superior Court who handled the petition regarding department discipline.

Kristin Crowley

She previously served as the LAFD chief before being fired by the mayor in February 2025.

Jaime Moore

He is the current chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, having assumed the role in November 2025.

The details

Judge Murillo ruled that the LAFD maintained the authority to issue the reprimand, dismissing the firefighter's challenge in Los Angeles Superior Court. The judge further noted that evidence comparing Waldrep's penalty to those of other employees did not influence the findings of misconduct.

Adin Waldrep joined the Los Angeles Fire Department in January 2006.
Kristin Crowley was fired as the department chief in February 2025.
Jaime Moore took over as the LAFD chief in November 2025.
Judge Tiana J. Murillo issued the ruling on October 1, 2026.

Market Landscape

This ruling follows the pattern set by the arbitrator ruling on back pay for LAFD firefighters on unpaid leave, clarifying the scope of personnel grievances. The decision highlights how municipal agencies maintain operational control while navigating labor disputes and vaccination policy enforcement.

The decision clarifies the disciplinary process for city employees, setting a precedent for how internal conduct cases are handled in Los Angeles. This provides the public with a clearer understanding of the oversight mechanisms governing emergency service staff.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficulty of challenging administrative disciplinary actions within public safety agencies. Residents should note that internal department policies regarding employee conduct remain subject to high levels of judicial deference.