L.A. Water Chief Receives Police Protection Amid Wildfire Threats

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Janisse Quinones, the $750,000-a-year chief of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), has been assigned a 24/7 police security detail following threats against her and other employees as wildfires ravage Southern California, according to two Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) sources.

The threats come amid heightened public scrutiny over the DWP’s fire preparedness and water distribution during the ongoing wildfire crisis. Quinones, who has described her leadership approach as guided by an “equity lens,” has faced criticism for the utility’s response to the wildfires, which have strained the city’s water and power systems.

“We can confirm that threats have been made against our employees, including incidents in the field … that occurred at a DWP facility downtown Tuesday evening,” a DWP spokesperson told Fox News. “We take every threat and incident seriously and report them immediately to law enforcement.”

One LAPD source cited the recent shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York as a factor in the decision to provide Quinones with round-the-clock protection. The DWP has not disclosed specific details about the threats but emphasized the importance of employee safety. “Our employees are working tirelessly around the clock to support the City’s response, and their work is critical to those efforts,” the spokesperson added.

Two recent incidents have heightened concerns. On Wednesday, a DWP employee working on a downed electrical pole in Beverly Crest was threatened by a person in a gray Mercedes-Benz. The suspect fled before police arrived. On Tuesday evening, a man believed to be armed with a rifle was reported near the DWP’s downtown headquarters, the John Ferraro Building. Police detained a suspect but later determined he was unarmed and carrying dinner and flowers for his wife.

The wildfires have placed additional strain on the DWP’s resources. Firefighting crews reported difficulties accessing water during the Palisades Fire, which began on Jan. 7, 2025. The utility acknowledged that about 20% of hydrants in the Palisades area experienced a loss in pressure due to the overwhelming demand. A 117-million-gallon reservoir in the Palisades, which was offline for scheduled maintenance, has also drawn criticism. Former DWP General Manager David Wright stated that while the reservoir might have prolonged water pressure, it would not have prevented the eventual drop caused by the wildfire.

Quinones, who has been vocal about her commitment to social justice and equity, has not publicly commented on the threats or the criticism. The DWP serves 4.1 million residents in Los Angeles, including areas heavily affected by the wildfires.

As the wildfires continue to burn, the DWP remains under intense scrutiny, with employees working around the clock to restore services and support firefighting efforts. “They are an essential part of the City family,” the DWP spokesperson said. “There is no place in society or in our City for any threats to their safety.”