Governor Stein Names New Public Safety Secretary

Gov. Josh Stein announced Monday that longtime public safety leader Eddie Buffaloe will retire as North Carolina’s Secretary of Public Safety at the end of the year, praising his decades of work in law enforcement and emergency response. Stein also named Jeffrey Smythe — former Burlington police chief and current director of the state’s Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division — as the next cabinet secretary overseeing public safety.

According to the Governor’s Office, Buffaloe will step down on Dec. 31 and immediately begin a new role as Deputy Chief of the Administrative Services Division at the Raleigh Police Department. Smythe will assume his new duties as secretary on Jan. 1.

Gov. Stein thanked Buffaloe for guiding the state through natural disasters, public safety challenges, and complex homeland security issues during his tenure. “Eddie Buffaloe has dedicated his career to keeping North Carolinians safe,” Stein said in Monday’s announcement. “He has led our state through moments of tragedy and disaster and kept us fixed on our mission of building safer communities. I’m grateful for his service and wish him great success in Raleigh.”

Buffaloe, who has worked in law enforcement for 30 years and was appointed secretary in 2021, said serving the state “has been the honor of a lifetime.”

Smythe, who has led the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division since 2021, brings more than three decades of policing and leadership experience. As Burlington’s police chief, he emphasized officer wellness initiatives, de-escalation training, implicit bias awareness, and expanded behavioral-health resources for both officers and the community. He previously served with the Arizona State University Police Department and is a graduate of leadership programs at Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy. 

Gov. Stein said Smythe’s background makes him well-positioned to lead the department. “With his extensive record in public safety, Jeff is the right person for the job,” Stein said. “I’ve seen firsthand what a strong leader and dedicated public servant he is, and I look forward to working with him to build a safer North Carolina.”

Smythe said he intends to continue the agency’s focus on preparedness, strong training standards, and collaboration with local law enforcement. “Secretary Buffaloe is leaving big shoes to fill, and I’m ready to build on his work,” Smythe said. “I’ll work closely with Governor Stein and agencies across the state to make sure officers have the resources they need to keep our communities safe from the mountains to the coast.”

The Department of Public Safety oversees statewide law enforcement coordination, emergency management, correctional facilities, juvenile justice, and homeland security functions. Federal and state frameworks guiding public safety coordination include the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Response Framework and FEMA emergency management guidance, which shape state-level preparedness and response efforts.