RALEIGH — Gov. Josh Stein celebrated North Carolina Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie Buffaloe for his decades of service on Monday and announced that he’s appointed former Burlington police chief and current N.C. Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division Director Jeffrey Smythe as secretary of public safety.
“I am excited to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Smythe as the new secretary of public safety,” Stein said in a news release. “With his extensive record in public safety as the former police chief in Burlington and the current director of the Criminal Justice Standards Division at the Department of Justice, Jeff is the right person for the job. I’ve seen firsthand what a great leader and dedicated public servant Jeff is, and I look forward to continuing to partner with him to create a safer North Carolina because that work always continues.”
Smythe has served as director of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Division of the Department of Justice since then-Attorney General Stein hired him for the role in August 2021. Before joining the Department of Justice, Smythe served as chief of the Burlington Police Department, where he implemented initiatives focusing on officer wellness and preparedness, emphasizing de-escalation, addressing implicit bias, and implementing behavioral health resources…