The mood was bittersweet last week as Inspector Joseph Dowling tearfully removed his 52nd Precinct Commanding Officer’s pin and handed it off to Nilda Hofmann, a hometown girl who grew up in the community she will now oversee.

Although there will be a transition period, Hofmann, commander of the 25th Precinct in Harlem for the past three years, now takes over a bustling precinct that covers the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood and University Heights.

After a little more than two and a half years at the helm of the 52nd Precinct, Dowling is moving on to a position with the Bronx Borough Patrol.

Dowling replaced former commander John D’Adamo who abruptly left after a series of scandals, including an incident involving his wife lying to authorities and his name coming up in the Bronx ticket-fixing scandal. D’Adamo was never charged with any wrongdoing, but left after less than 17 months on the job. Typically, commanding officers serve between two to four years at a precinct. They are rotated frequently to avoid corruption and stagnation.

Dowling leaves after earning a reputation as a thoughtful, responsive commander who saw violent crime drop significantly in the precinct last year, only to see those numbers rebound this year.

“The feeling that we’re all feeling tonight are the same ones I had last night as I left the Two-Five,” said Hofmann during an emotional introduction to her new precinct. “You become part of a community. So even if I feel sad about leaving, this is a homecoming for me.”

In fact, Hofmann can count the “Five-Two” as her home stomping ground.

“I went to Walton High School [in Kingsbridge Heights],” she said. “My first job was as a cashier at the Associated [on East Burnside Avenue]. I used to hang out with my boyfriend right in this park right over here [St. James Park].”

Both Dowling and Hofmann addressed a nearly full room for the monthly meeting of the 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting held at St. James Episcopal Church on Jerome Avenue last Thursday, Sept. 26.

“We’ve come a long way,” said Community Council President Brenda Caldwell-Paris. “I remember the ’70s when they would threaten to close down the Five-Two. But after years of work, we have built the most vibrant Precinct Council and Inspector Dowling has been part of that. So even as we say goodbye, we welcome our new deputy inspector because she has as strong connections with this community.”

Others also thanked Dowling for his service and encouraged the new CO to work with community members.

“It was an honor to know you,” said University Heights resident Gloria Thomas, to Dowling. “You were always patient and you always tried to answer our questions.” She continued: “And to our new inspector, we welcome you. And I would say, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ even as 15 of us surround you — because we will!”

Hofmann is just one of seven women serving as commanding officers in all of the New York City Police Department. She has been in the police force for 23 years and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the City University of New York John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

She joined the NYPD in October 1990, and began her career on patrol in the Bronx’s 43rd Precinct, covering Soundview and Castle Hill, among other neighborhoods in the southeast part of the borough. She was then promoted to sergeant in April of 1998, lieutenant in December of 2003 and captain in April of 2008. Aside from the 43rd Precinct, she has served on Patrol Borough Bronx Task Force, the 23rd Precinct in Manhattan, Patrol Borough Bronx, and 44th Precinct, which covers the Highbridge area in the Bronx.

Hofmann previously served as Executive Officer of the Bronx’s 42nd Precinct before becoming Commanding Officer for the 25th Precinct immediately preceding this appointment.

Both Hofmann and Dowling said they had been meeting to go over the issues concerning the area throughout the day and will continue to meet as is necessary.

“By this time next week, Inspector Hofmann will know as much if not more, than I do,” Dowling said. “As the community embraces her, she’ll embrace them back. She grew up here.”

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Oct. 3-16 print edition of the Norwood News.