Mayor Ginther names Kate McSweeney-Pishotti as Columbus' first woman safety director
Less than two weeks after Columbus Public Safety Director Robert W. Clark announced his resignation, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced his appointment of the city's first woman public safety director to replace him.
Kate McSweeney-Pishotti, who has spent three-and-a-half years as Ginther's deputy chief of staff, was named Monday as the next director of the city Department of Public Safety.
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In a Wednesday interview, Ginther defended his quick selection that did not involve a candidate application process and considered no other candidates.
"We really wanted to keep that momentum going with someone who had the experience, the qualifications that Kate has," Ginther said. "When you find the right person, you need to take advantage of the momentum you've built and act swiftly and decisively."
McSweeney-Pishotti said she was "thrilled" for her new role.
“I am honored and humbled by this incredible opportunity to lead the Department of Public Safety,” McSweeney-Pishotti said in a prepared statement. “It is an immense responsibility, but one I am prepared to accept. I am eager to continue the great work we’ve started, to support the women and men who keep our city safe, and to continue to advance change and reform our residents expect.”
McSweeney-Pishotti will replace Clark, who was appointed in September 2021 to as director of the city Department of Public Safety.
Previous: Robert Clark, Columbus public safety director, to leave city later this month
Clark, a former longtime assistant special agent-in-charge at the FBI Los Angeles field office, announced on April 4 that he would be leaving Columbus for a job in Philadelphia later this month. Clark's last day in office was Saturday, He is now vice president of public safety at the Philadelphia Housing Authority.
McSweeney-Pishotti will oversee a total of more than 3,700 uniformed and civilian employees in Columbus' fire and police divisions with an annual budget of more than $700 million.
Ginther said in a news release that McSweeney-Pishotti will also work closely with the newly formed Office of Violence Prevention on non-law enforcement, anti-violence strategies in Columbus.
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McSweeney-Pishotti does not have direct law enforcement or firefighting experience, a divergence for a post that has traditionally been filled by experienced public safety professionals.
In her previous position as Ginther's deputy chief of staff since December 2019, McSweeney-Pishotti was a liaison to the public safety department, working closely with police and fire personnel, according to a news release. In that role, McSweeney-Pishotti also was part of the effort to implement the city's first Civilian Police Review Board, which investigates complaints about alleged police misconduct, as well as the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General to investigate those complaints and report to the review board.
Prior to that position, McSweeney-Pishotti spent three years as the deputy director of public safety after 18 years as an aide in the legislative research office serving Columbus City Council. She's also worked as a probation officer and as a bailiff in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
McSweeney-Pishotti has a master's degree in criminal justice from Tiffin University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Dayton.
Ginther said McSweeney-Pishotti has a "wealth of experience" and has created relationships with first responders and community members. He said McSweeny-Pishotti will also serve as the civilian oversight for police and fire.
"We offer the support, the resources, the training, the equipment — but also the accountability that the public requires — making sure things are being done the right way," Ginther said.
McSweeney-Pishotti said in a Wednesday interview that she felt she had the experience that was needed to help the police and fire divisions do their jobs effectively.
"The mayor talked about this (role) being the civilian oversight of police and fire — I'm that civilian," she said. "I would also argue there's thousands of people behind the scenes in public safety, and I've worked in many, many roles behind the scenes."
Eric Lagatta is a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch covering public safety, with a focus on in-depth coverage of social justice issues and crime trends.
elagatta@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two weeks after Clark resigns, Columbus has new public safety director
