For more than 22 years, Michael J. Rein served as a trusted member of the Rutgers University Department of Public Safety; retiring in 2022 as the deputy chief of University Police. The Rutgers University Police Department is comprised of more than 180 sworn and 340 non-sworn employees. As deputy chief, he was primarily responsible for all professional standards functions. More specifically, Rein supervised internal affairs, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation, 9-1-1 communications, department training as well as the university’s compliance with the Clery Act. Rein exercised oversight, coordination, and implementation of systems and policies to ensure consistency in all campus safety and security functions across the Rutgers University system. Moreover, Rein provided direct and indirect supervision over the chiefs of police at each Rutgers University location.

Considered an expert in public safety regionalization and shared services, Rein oversaw and coordinated the integration of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Police Department into the Rutgers University Police Department and more general public safety activities associated with the integration of the universities. Rein has worked with neighboring jurisdictions to build successful partnerships and shared services agreements, which leveraged economies of scale to provide exceptional services, exceeding customer expectations.

He was responsible for the coordination and management of the Rutgers University Police Department’s CALEA – Law Enforcement, CALEA – Communications, International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Agencies (IACLEA), and New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police accreditations since the initial self-assessment phases. In addition, he oversaw the deployment of all public safety technologies including close circuit television (CCTV) and access control and alarm installations and monitoring on the university’s campuses, statewide. Rein served as an appointed member to the New Jersey Statewide Public Safety Communications Commission working to enhance 9-1-1 telephone and interoperable communications systems in New Jersey as well as the Mental Health/Special Needs Statewide Steering Committee working to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement response to those with disabilities or those in mental health crisis. He was previously also a CALEA assessor and assessment team leader. From 2020 to 2022, Rein served as the President of the New Jersey Public Safety College and University Public Safety Association and previously served as an executive board member of the New Jersey Public Safety Accreditation Coalition. He currently serves as an elected fire district commissioner in Central New Jersey.

Mike is a regular instructor at area police academies in the areas of ethics, police use of force, risk mitigation, employee and administrative investigations, and social media etiquette for public employees as well as an adjunct instructor with the Rutgers Center of Government Studies and School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA).