Nilda Hofmann
Nilda Hofmann Named First Deputy Commissioner, John O’Rourke Named Deputy Commissioner; Hofmann Becomes First Hispanic and First Woman Appointed to Department Leadership
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has announced two appointments made by Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor to strengthen the leadership team of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. Raynor has named Nilda Hofmann as First Deputy Commissioner and John O’Rourke as Deputy Commissioner. Hofmann’s appointment marks a historic milestone for the Department: she is the first Hispanic and the first woman to serve in a leadership position.
Jenkins said: “Public safety is one of the most fundamental responsibilities we have in County government, and these appointments bring two extraordinarily experienced professionals to our leadership team. Nilda Hofmann has spent decades leading complex law enforcement operations and building relationships between police and the communities they serve. John O’Rourke has devoted his career to investigating and prosecuting some of the most serious and complex crimes in Westchester and New York City. Their experience, judgment and commitment to public service will be tremendous assets to Westchester County.”
Raynor said: “These appointments add tremendous experience to the Department’s leadership team. I look forward to working with both of them as we continue to strengthen public safety across the County.”
Nilda Hofmann, First Deputy Commissioner
Hofmann spent 30 years with the New York City Police Department, rising through the ranks from Police Officer to Bureau Chief. Her leadership roles included serving as Chief of Transportation and Chief of Community Affairs, where she oversaw thousands of uniformed and civilian personnel and worked extensively with community organizations, government agencies and other stakeholders. She also served in a number of command positions throughout her NYPD career, including as Commanding Officer of the 25th and 52nd Precincts.
As NYPD Chief of Community Affairs, Hofmann supervised approximately 5,600 employees assigned to the School Safety Division, Crime Prevention Division, Youth Strategies Division and Community Outreach Division. Her work included developing partnerships with community-based and faith-based organizations, creating youth engagement strategies and overseeing initiatives designed to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and New York City communities. She later served as Chief of Transportation, overseeing more than 4,000 uniformed and civilian personnel responsible for traffic safety and enforcement throughout New York City.
Hofmann also brings valuable experience working in the Hudson Valley and with institutions that serve Westchester residents. Her time at Dutchess Community College and in a hospital setting provided her with firsthand experience navigating the public safety needs of both an academic community and a complex healthcare environment.
Hofmann said: “I am honored to join the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. I am grateful to County Executive Ken Jenkins and Commissioner Terrance Raynor for their confidence in me. I look forward to working with the Department’s dedicated men and women, County leadership, and our community partners to build on the Department’s outstanding work and continue serving Westchester County residents.”
John O’Rourke, Deputy Commissioner
O’Rourke joins the Department of Public Safety from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, where he currently serves as Chief of the Investigations Division. In that role, he supervises criminal investigations involving hate crimes, public integrity, major economic crimes, complex computer crimes and gang-related violence, while also serving as lead trial counsel in complex cases and homicides.
O’Rourke has served in the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for more than two decades, holding numerous senior leadership positions including Counsel and Deputy Division Chief of Trials and Investigations; Bureau Chief of Gangs, Firearms and Narcotics; Bureau Chief of the Major Case Bureau; and Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau.
Since 2015, O’Rourke has also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, working in conjunction with the FBI and federal prosecutors on gang and gang-violence cases.
Before joining the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in 2002, O’Rourke served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted homicides and other violent felonies and was appointed to the Firearms Trafficking Unit and Asian Gang Unit.
O’Rourke said: “I am honored and excited to take on this new role with the Department of Public safety. Throughout my career, I have worked alongside exceptional law enforcement professionals to confront violent crime, dismantle criminal organizations and hold those who threaten the safety of our communities accountable. I look forward to bringing that experience to the Department of Public Safety and building on the strong work that is already underway. My goal is to strengthen our partnerships across law-enforcement and our communities, and to use my experience to help advance public safety throughout Westchester County. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this new capacity and look forward to working alongside the dedicated professionals of the Department.”