Barry Smith - In the Loop

Reuben Young, the current secretary of crime control and public safety, will become the new secretary of the consolidated Department of Public Safety.

The consolidated department combines three current departments – Crime Control and Public Safety, Correction, and Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – into one. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.

Gov. Bev Perdue made the announcement Thursday morning.

Perdue proposed the consolidation last December. It was approved by the General Assembly.

The consolidation is expected to save several million dollars by eliminating or consolidating functions such as human resources, purchasing, training and administration, Perdue’s office says.

“Reuben Young led North Carolina’s state law enforcement and emergency management communities over the past two-and-a-half years through many challenges,” Perdue said in a statement. “He knows North Carolina and is respected up and down the ranks of law enforcement. He is the right person to guide this new agency.”

The announcement says that Young’ salary will retain his current salary. Cabinet secretaries’ salaries are set by the General Assembly at $120,363.

Future roles for the other two Cabinet secretaries whose departments are being consolidated – Correction Secretary Alvin Keller and Juvenile Justice Secretary Linda Hayes – have yet to be determined.

“Secretary Young will choose his new leadership team,” said Chris Mackey, a spokeswoman for Perdue.

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