CalPERS restriction ends Joseph Kreins’s interim tenure; permanent hire expected to be made soon

Lt. Mike Greene has been named acting chief of Benicia police, Anne Cardwell, assistant city manager, said Friday. The appointment was made in January.

“Prior to that date, we had Joseph Kreins serving as our chief on an interim basis,” Cardwell said.

“Due to relatively recent changes in CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement Service) rules, (Kreins) is not allowed to exceed 960 hours in a fiscal year, given he is a retired annuitant,” she said.

In 2012, Kreins retired at 55 as Novato’s police chief. But then Vallejo hired him as its police chief, initially on an interim basis and later as a permanent employee, when Robert Nichelini left to become an attorney.

When Kreins announced last year he intended to retire from Vallejo police, that city hired Benicia’s chief, Andrew Bidou, and Kreins was named Benicia’s interim chief.

“Given his prior service with the city of Vallejo as their interim, he was coming up on that limit and so was unable to continue in that role with the city of Benicia,” Cardwell said.

She said City Manager Brad Kilger may choose a permanent successor to Bidou before the end of March, “assuming all continues to proceed well.”

Kilger asked Greene to take on the position on an acting basis for a few months until the post can be filled permanently, she said.

While Greene said he has not sought the full-time chief’s position, he said he was “more than happy” to take the job until the new chief is hired.

“It’s an honor for me to do it,” he said.

Greene, 41, who spent his early years in Wyoming and Colorado, has lived in Benicia since 1989, and is a Benicia High School graduate.

He joined the department in 1993 as an animal control officer, then became a community service officer and a member of the reserve police.

Greene became a full-time officer in 1997, initially assigned to patrol. He also has been a detective, a narcotics officer and a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

Other assignments include being a field training officer and hostage negotiator.

When Greene was promoted to sergeant, he again was assigned to patrol before becoming an administrative sergeant, involved in hiring, personnel and training.

He has been a lieutenant for about four years, during which he has been assigned to operations, patrol, investigations and, currently, the administrative side of the department. He will continue to be the department’s public information officer.

Cardwell said the transition “has occurred very smoothly, and Mike has done an excellent job stepping up and taking on the role of acting chief.”