Chief of Staff
Sections under the Chief of Staff are charged with operational oversight. This division provides a variety of core support functions for the department’s numerous interrelated services. These core support services include Internal Audit, Legislative Affairs, Communications, Human Resources, Office of the General Counsel, as well as Professional Standards.
Meet Chief of Staff Casandra Hoekstra
As Chief of Staff, Casandra “San” Skinner Hoekstra provides strategic leadership and oversight of communications, legislative affairs, internal audit, general counsel, human resources and professional standards. Committed to exceptional customer service and organizational integrity, she fosters transparency, accountability and professionalism while promoting efficiency, collaboration and operational excellence to support the department’s mission and workforce.
Reporting Sections
The Department of Public Safety has three legislative liaisons: Susanna Davis, Carlye Wittek and Michael Cullen.
The Communications staff works to ensure the people of North Carolina are informed and knowledgeable about programs, events and conditions affecting their safety and well-being. Staff works to provide timely and accurate information to news media and to inform the public of emergency action steps to be taken during natural or man-made disasters.
Members of the Communications Office respond to media inquiries, write speeches and press releases and produce educational materials.
Communications staff members are on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week assisting members of the news media either by phone or at the scenes of incidents. When necessary, communications staff prepare and distribute news releases and arrange for news conferences.
The Human Resource Office provides professional guidance, advice an support to sections in a variety of functions such as staffing, job classification, training and development, employee relations and benefits administration in order to make the Department of Public Safety employment experience enriching and rewarding.
Human Resources Director: Acting Director Davita Morant
Learn more about academic assistance and available training courses.
Employee Appeals and Grievance Information:
- Read Employee Grievance Policy
- Request informal discussion
- Complete and submit grievance forms