Retired State DPS Secretary Joins Raleigh Police as Deputy Chief

The Raleigh Police Department announced that Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr., the former head of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, will join the department as Deputy Chief for the Administrative Services Division. The announcement was made on November 26, 2025, and Buffaloe is scheduled to assume the role on January 5, 2026. His responsibilities will include oversight of professional standards, administrative services and the Office of the Chief, as well as providing support to Field Operations, Special Operations, Detectives and the Community Impact and Engagement Division.

Buffaloe arrives with more than three decades of experience in public safety, including senior leadership at state level, roles in emergency management and service in the North Carolina National Guard. That background positions him to manage complex administrative functions and to improve coordination across city, county and state agencies when emergencies occur. City leadership highlighted his emergency management and law enforcement experience and his community focus as key reasons for the hire.

For local residents, the appointment affects how the department administers internal accountability and community facing programs. Oversight of professional standards may influence training, internal investigations and policy implementation, while administrative services touches budgeting, logistics and personnel matters that shape day to day policing. Support for community engagement signals a continued emphasis on outreach and partnership building at a time when many municipalities are balancing public safety with demands for transparency and trust.

Buffaloe has reflected on his state service and expressed eagerness to continue public safety work at the local level. His combination of operational experience and administrative leadership could help the department handle both routine policing and large scale incidents, including severe weather events and other emergencies that require interagency cooperation. As Raleigh moves into 2026, residents will be watching how the new deputy chief integrates into the department and how his leadership influences public safety priorities across Wake County.