CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced her appointment of Deborah Witzburg as the next Inspector General for the City of Chicago. Since early in her career, Deborah has demonstrated her strong commitment to public service, including more than ten years in local government, most recently as Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety. 

"Today, I am excited to announce the appointment of Deborah Witzburg as Chicago's next Inspector General—a critical role in ensuring that our City government runs efficiently and effectively for the residents of Chicago and in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Deborah's years of relevant experience and deep commitment to being a public servant make her a great fit for this role and I am confident in her ability to lead this important office. I look forward to working with her to make sure our residents have the accountable and transparent City government they deserve.” 

As Chicago Inspector General, Deborah will be charged with promoting economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity in the administration of City government through investigations and audits resulting in recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has jurisdiction over all City employees; elected officials such as the Mayor, Aldermen, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer; as well as appointed officials, contractors, and vendors who provide goods and services to the City. The OIG also has jurisdiction over the Public Buildings Commission pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement authorized by City Council.  

The OIG has the responsibility to receive and register complaints and information regarding fraud, waste, and abuse within City government. The Office is charged with investigating the performance of government officers, employees, functions, and programs, either in response to complaints or on the OIG’s own initiative to detect and prevent misconduct and inefficiencies within the programs and operations of the City of Chicago.  

Deborah served as Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety at the OIG from June of 2020 to November of 2021, where she provided a strategic vision and ensured the OIG met its mission by overseeing and directing investigations and audits of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago’s police accountability agencies. Her work in providing counsel and oversight on matters of policing and police misconduct and serving as a liaison with elected and appointed officials, police and criminal justice stakeholders, and community members, together with her broader legal and investigative experience, makes Deborah an outstanding candidate for this role.  

“I’m honored to be appointed and anxious to get to work. I’m a true believer in the work of OIG, and I’m committed to carrying it forward with independence and integrity,” said Witzburg.  

“As chair of the Ethics and Govt. Oversight Committee in city council, I’m pleased with this appointment. The appointment of Deborah Witzburg ensures that the next Inspector General will have the experience and commitment to reform we need to continue the important work of that office,” said Alderman Michele Smith. 

Prior to serving as Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety, Deborah was Associate General Counsel for Public Safety at the OIG, where she conducted public safety-related evaluations and reviews and advised on legal and constitutional issues. She has also held the roles of Chief Investigator on Public Safety, leading the development of criteria for the screening and review of closed police disciplinary investigations and overseeing investigations of police misconduct, and of Assistant Inspector General, managing investigations into misconduct by the City of Chicago employees and collaborating with outside agencies on ongoing investigations and prosecutions.   

Before her career in the OIG, Deborah spent eight years at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, starting as a law clerk, and then as an Assistant State’s Attorney, where she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanors and handled jury trials and grand jury indictments, serving in the Community Justice Center. During her time in the State's Attorney's Office, Deborah developed crime and gun violence prevention programs, partnering with schools, senior citizens’ groups, and neighborhood organizations.  

Deborah received her bachelor's degree from Brown University in Anthropology, magna cum laude, and received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was on the editorial staff of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Deborah is admitted to the bar in the State of Illinois.   

Deborah was selected pursuant to a rigorous process set forth in the Municipal Code, which included a nationwide candidate search, an evaluation of prospective candidates by a blue-chip selection committee, and presentation of recommendations for a final mayoral selection. The Selection Committee consisted of:  

• Peggy Daley, Vice President at Charles River Associates;  
• Rita Fry, retired Cook County Public Defender;  
• Cara Hendrickson, Executive Director at BPI – Chicago; 
• Walter Katz, Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures; and 
• Jose Tirado, First Deputy Director, Office of Emergency Management and Communications, City of Chicago. 

The Inspector General serves a four-year term and the Mayor’s selection must be confirmed by the City Council.  

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