The Westchester County Board of Legislators Appointments Committee has approved Susan Spear as commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services. She is set to become the first woman to hold that post in DES history. This appointment will be voted on by the Board of Legislators at its next meeting on Monday, January 27, 2025. 

Legislator Catherine Parker said: “As we see this week watching the fires in Los Angeles burn, emergency services have taken on an even greater task of having to be on the frontline of our fight against the Climate Crisis. In Westchester, flooding, not fire is the enemy our Department of Emergency Services must face. Westchester is going to be well situated for the next event with Susan Spear at the helm as Commissioner. She brings the experience of having served during Hurricane Ida, and she knows how to coordinate to get resources to where they are needed. As Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Appointments Committee there was a unanimous decision that she is the best one to serve as our new Commissioner. As an added bonus, it will be the first time in Westchester’s history that a woman has served in this capacity.”

Spear served as deputy commissioner at DES since November 2020 and will replace Richard G. Wishnie who was named Deputy County Executive by County Executive Ken Jenkins last week.

The Department of Emergency Services, which just celebrated the 25th anniversary of its creation, consists of four divisions: Fire Services, Communications (60 Control), Emergency Management (OEM) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Read the Press Release from the Office of County Executive Ken Jenkins here.