Susan Spear, First Woman to Head DES in its History
Susan Spear has been appointed commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services, becoming the first woman to hold that post in DES history, County Executive Ken Jenkins announced.
Spear, who served as deputy commissioner at DES since November 2020, replaces Richard G. Wishnie. He was named by Jenkins as his Deputy County Executive last week.
“Susan Spear has done a tremendous job as deputy commissioner, and she is the right person to lead the Department of Emergency Services into the future. I am grateful for her leadership at DES and for her exemplary service to our County during the Covid-19 pandemic and other major events in Westchester.”
Spear said, “I am thankful to County Executive Jenkins for the trust he has placed in me and for his longtime support of this Department. I am proud to lead the outstanding men and women at DES who play such a vital role in keeping Westchester safe. On behalf of all of us at DES, I would also like to thank Richard Wishnie for his leadership and significant contributions to DES during his tenure as commissioner.”
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).
The Fire Services Division is comprised of four units: fire training, fire inspection, special operations, and fire prevention and protection. The division administers, coordinates and maintains the fire training program that is available to Westchester County’s 59 fire departments. It also oversees specialized units, including the Hazardous Materials Response Team and the Technical Rescue Team.
The Emergency Communications Center, commonly referred to as 60 Control, provides primary dispatch service for 54 fire departments and 34 EMS agencies in Westchester. The center is staffed by communications specialists 24 hours each day and also handles all fire and EMS mutual aid requests going in and out of the County.
OEM provides planning, preparedness training and emergency response to major events. It works collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies to prepare Westchester for disasters and related response. During a major emergency and significant weather events, OEM may activate the County’s Emergency Operations Center, a state-of-the-art facility where the County, local municipalities, hospitals, utilities and other agencies work together to keep Westchester safe. The division also maintains a stockpile of critical supplies that can be dispensed to local communities during an emergency.
The EMS Division collaborates with local, regional and state agencies to enhance the effectiveness of the County’s Emergency Medical Services system. It provides medical training to County employees, EMS providers, firefighters, police agencies and other organizations. It also assigns EMS personnel to County events and facilities, and provides mutual aid coordination and incident management assistance during large-scale events.
“The next few years will bring new challenges, which DES is well-prepared to address with the support of County leadership. We plan to continue making progress on important capital projects and facilities improvements that will further enhance our training programs and resource capabilities,” Spear said.
Spear’s appointment as commissioner must be confirmed by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.