The city of Charleston has a plan in the works to create a new Department of Public Safety to oversee the police and fire departments, and Police Chief Greg Mullen could be promoted to lead it. The concept was announced in a written release Friday. Next week, Tecklenburg plans to ask the City Council's Public Safety Committee to study the feasibility of such a department. City Council would have to approve the change and the person hired to lead the new department. Tecklenburg said he has asked Mullen to consider accepting the new position as the first director of public safety, if council approves.