Joseph Kreins

Joseph Kreins is a tenured law enforcement executive with over 40 years working with cities, counties, and special districts. He has worked as an independent government and law enforcement consultant for 15+ years and has served as a POST-certified facilitator for law enforcement agencies in team building and strategic planning in numerous police departments and cities. He has experience working with City Managers and City Councils with goal setting, coaching, mentoring, and budget development.  Additional services include leadership development, executive recruitment, promotional processes, and organizational assessments. Kreins has become a subject matter expert in managing executive transitions in law enforcement agencies and working with cities to develop goal-setting and strategic planning.

Krein’s career in the City of Concord police department included many roles like their first-ever Public Information Officer and District Commander. He was one of the key architects in working to develop their community engagement and community policing strategies. Additionally, Kreins served as the Chief of Police in many Bay Area cities.  As the Police Chief and Assistant City Manager for Sausalito, his responsibilities included Fire Department leadership & management, as well as IT & City Parking.  Chief Kreins provided leadership in Vallejo during a critical period, following City’s emergence from bankruptcy. During his tenure, they reduced crime across all categories, enhanced community trust & relationships, and significantly restored police staffing and was a Special Advisor and public safety consultant.  Joseph also served as the interim Chief of Police in Vallejo, Benicia, Winters, Novato, Clayton, and Suisun City, and Interim Chief of Police and Assistant GM for Public Safety at the East Bay Regional Parks District. He has facilitated several organizational audits/assessments throughout the Bay Area.

Kreins has a BA in HR Management from Golden Gate University (magna cum laude) and certificates from the CA Peace Officer Standards Training (P.O.S.T.), including executive management. He has completed the FBI – Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEEDS) program and the Senior Management Institute for Policing (SMIP) from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).

Chief Kreins is a member of the International Assoc. of Chiefs of Police (IACP), served on the board of directors for the CA Police Chiefs Assoc. (CPCA) and Marin Emergency Radio Authority (MERA), and was president of the Solano County Law Enforcement Administrators Assoc. and the Marin County Police Chiefs Assoc. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and CA Peace Officers Assoc. (CPOA).

Joseph has taught POST Supervisory & Management courses and the CA State Training Institute (CSTI) – CA Office of Emergency Services (OES) law enforcement training courses including police/media relations, crisis communications, policing & problem-solving, community-oriented government, leadership development, and developing first-line supervisors.