Butner, N.C. — The man who has served as Butner's interim public safety chief since May has officially been named chief, the N.C. Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday.

Danny Roberts will lead a staff of 52, including police officers, firefighters and telecommunicators who protect a 36-square-mile area.

A native of Granville County, Roberts began his law enforcement career in 1984 working as a public safety officer for Duke University. In 1986, he became a public safety officer for Butner Public Safety, working in the police and fire sections and in the criminal investigations section.

Roberts was promoted to master officer in 1993, captain in 1996 and assistant director in 1999. As assistant director, Roberts was responsible for overseeing police operations, internal affairs, local area network administration, grants, records, evidence and criminal investigations.

After graduating from South Granville High School in 1982, he earned an associate of arts degree in criminal justice from Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson and in 1989 graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Shaw University.

Roberts was chapter president of the South Granville Jaycees in 1992 and is an active member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Creedmoor.