Secretary Frank L. Perry today announced two key appointments to the Department of Public Safety leadership team. Perry has named Ellis Boyle as Deputy Secretary and Gregory K. Baker as Commissioner of Law Enforcement, effective immediately.
“These two individuals have proven themselves as dedicated public servants and their experience in criminal justice and law enforcement is exemplary,” Secretary Perry said. “I am confident that they both are the ideal fit for the mission of this agency and its consolidation. They will be great assets in assisting me and all of DPS in continuing to achieve our very high professional standards.”
Boyle has served as General Counsel for DPS for more than seven months. Previously, he served as an Assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Prior to that, he was an associate in the business litigation practice group of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice in Winston-Salem. He also has served as a law clerk for the Honorable Claude Hilton, a U.S. District Court judge in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Born and raised in Edenton, Boyle earned a bachelor's degree in history from Davidson College. He then served as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He earned his juris doctor at Wake Forest University Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review.
In addition to his Deputy Secretary role, Boyle will continue to serve as General Counsel for the department. By having Boyle serve as both Deputy Secretary and General Counsel, DPS will save $120,000 in annual salary costs.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to continue to work with the dedicated employees who make up the Department of Public Safety,” Boyle said. “I very much look forward to continuing to serve the Governor, the Secretary and the people of North Carolina in this new role.”
As for the Commissioner of Law Enforcement appointment, Baker will oversee the division that consists of the State Highway Patrol, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, State Capitol Police and the N.C. National Guard. He has held the position of ALE Director since April.
Prior to that, Baker was a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he was a manager in the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Programs at both the national and field office levels. He served in various supervisory roles for the FBI in Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Raleigh. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from The University of Central Oklahoma.
“I am humbled by the confidence the Governor and the Secretary have in me to serve in this role,” said Baker. “I am excited about the opportunity to work closely with the incredible women and men within the division, as well as throughout DPS.”
In addition to these two positions, DPS also has reorganized certain positions in the upper management level and in the Office of the Secretary that will lead to a savings of more than $200,000 in annual salary costs. The department also expects to save at least an additional $50,000 in annual salary costs from the upper management level and in the Office of the Secretary by the end of the year.
DPS Establishes New Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice
As part of continuing consolidation efforts, the Department of Public Safety is integrating Juvenile Justice and Adult Correction to establish the new Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. This realignment will increase efficiencies in upper management and administrative support, while maintaining critical field operations and enhancing preventive and support services.
“We are streamlining and combining upper level functions, while continuing to provide the same level of support, and in some areas enhanced support, to our field operations,” DPS Secretary Perry said. “There will be no mixing of juveniles and adults under supervision, in facilities or in community programs anywhere.”
The new organizational structure only affects upper management roles at the division level. Commissioner W. David Guice will oversee the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice. He has been Commissioner of the Division of Adult Correction since January. James “J.R.” Gorham will now serve alongside Guice as Executive Officer of the division.
“Our Juvenile Justice and Correction professionals are continuing to make great strides in community-based programs that are proven to reduce recidivism,” Commissioner Guice said. “We recognize that how we work with juveniles differs greatly from how we manage adults, and I want to emphasize that we will continue to let our experts in the field do what they do best.”
Commissioner Guice added that the combining of common resources from both Juvenile Justice and Adult Correction will benefit the entire division and aid its employees in achieving their distinct and unique missions.
The new DPS organizational chart is available here: https://www.ncdps.gov/div/Admin/OrgChart_09_10_131.pdf. It can also be found on the DPS website in the “About Us” section.
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Contact: Pamela Walker
Phone: (919) 733-5027