Commander – BUREAU OF Operations
Renee Kriesmann is an accomplished senior-level law enforcement leader with a record of success with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. She excels at demonstrating excellence in policing and administration, with a focus on diversity and community involvement. She has a solid record of achievement managing crime and public safety, developing strategic plans, allocating resources and securing stakeholder support.
Renee started her career with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as an entry-level Civilian Police Dispatcher in 1988.
She moved through the ranks with multiple promotions, transfers, and assignments — culminating in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In her current position as Commander of the Bureau of Operations, she reports directly to the Police Chief. In this role she develops strategy and oversees the largest of four bureaus in the Department. Renee provides senior-level oversight of all six of the Department districts in the City of St. Louis, with full authority for over 700 commissioned officers (Over 90% of the total police department), and 25 civilian employees. She oversees the personnel assigned to the Department’s Six Police Districts, their Detective Bureaus, the Specialized Enforcement Unit (including the SWAT, Mobile Reserve, Anti-Crime, Traffic Safety, Canine, Bomb and Arson, Drug Enforcement and Intervention and Aviation Units) and the Bureau of Investigation (including Homicide, Sex Crimes, Domestic Abuse Response Team, Juvenile Units).
From April to November of 2023, Renee served as Commander of Crime Control Strategies. In this position, she reported directly to the Chief of Police and commanded a newly created department which analyzes and monitors trends across the City’s 79 neighborhoods. Strategies were developed to reduce crime and meet the Chief’s challenge to maximize the effectiveness of resources. She redesigned the Chief’s vision for COMPSTAT and continued to build the Real Time Crime Center, focusing on the use of technology.
Her career has included critical leadership roles in the Patrol Divisions, senior-level administration roles at Police Headquarters, investigative roles for the Circuit Attorney’s Office and Patrol Sergeant and Patrol Officer roles within the districts. After serving as Commander of District Four (2015-2020), she was promoted from Captain to Major, becoming Commander of the Central Patrol Division (2020-2022), with full responsibility for the operation and performance of two high-profile districts. Renee previously served as Executive Aide to the Police Commissioner (2013-2015), with oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Department. She managed the operating units, supervised the Operational Planning Unit, and played a key role in designing and building the Real Time Crime Center. Criminal activity was deterred and monitored with the use of surveillance cameras, license plate recognition systems, crime analysis and other law enforcement software and databases. Renee also served as Chief of Staff to the Board of Police Commissioners (2011-2013) while the Department was under State Control.
As Commander of the Operational Planning Unit (2007 to 2011), Renee oversaw the planning, preparation and execution of security for large events and dignitary visits in the city, such as the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which included an appearance by former President Barack Obama. Her early experience included District Patrol Officer and Traffic Safety Patrol Officer. She was promoted to Patrol Sergeant for District Nine in 1999, followed by an assignment to the Housing Authority Unit in 2001; she subsequently served as Watch Commander for two districts (2006-2007). Renee also spent time with the Circuit Attorney’s Office; first, as a Detective (1996-1999) and later as Chief Investigator (2003-2006).
Renee holds herself and the Department’s officers to the highest standards to reflect the core values of Service, Integrity, Leadership and Fair Treatment to All. A lifelong resident of the St. Louis region, Renee graduated from Orchard Farm High School in St. Charles, Missouri and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement Administration from Saint Louis University. She has certifications from the Senior Management Institute for Police and the Secret Service Protective School.
Operations