Joseph Kreins

Joseph Kreins is a tenured law enforcement and municipal executive with over 40 years of experience, working with cities, counties, and special districts. He has worked as an independent government and law enforcement consultant for more than 10 years and has served as a POST certified facilitator for law enforcement agencies in team building and strategic planning workshops in numerous police departments and cities. He has experience working with City Managers and City Councils with goal setting and strategic planning, coaching, and mentoring, and budget development.  Additional services include leadership development, executive recruitments, 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.

Kreins began his career with the City of Concord, where he rose through the ranks of the police department, including 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. 

Prior to affiliating with MRG, Joseph served as the interim Chief of Police in the cities of Vallejo, Benicia, Winters, Novato, Clayton and Suisun City. As the Police Chief and Assistant City Manager for Sausalito, his responsibilities included Fire Department leadership and management, as well as Information Technology and City Parking Services.  Chief Kreins provided leadership in Vallejo during a critical period, following that City’s emergence from bankruptcy. During his tenure, they reduced crime across all categories, enhanced community trust & relationships, and significantly restored police staffing. Joseph has also served as a Special Advisor and public safety consultant.  He has facilitated several organizational audits/assessments of numerous agencies throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

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

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

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