As MARTA’s Chief of Police and Emergency Management, Chief M. Scott Kreher leads one of the top law enforcement agencies in the country, with MPD having received consecutive Gold Standard Awards from both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement. Chief Kreher was appointed Chief of Police of the MARTA Police Department in March 2020 after retiring from the Atlanta Police Department with over 27 years of law enforcement experience.
Chief Kreher began his career as a patrol officer in southeast Atlanta. While a student at Georgia State University, he rode with several officers and realized law enforcement was his passion. After the academy, he worked in Zone 3 in southeast Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics and later became a Field Training Officer.
Transferred to the elite Red Dog Unit in 1997, Kreher worked with the unit combating street-level drug operations. In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of Investigator and assigned to the Major Fraud Unit where he investigated criminal mortgage and identity fraud.
Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2002, he was a front-line field supervisor in Zone 5 where he supervised patrol officers in the downtown district. Soon after his promotion, he was assigned to the Robbery Unit as a supervisor responsible for assigning investigators to both pedestrian and commercial robbery cases and then ensuring thorough and detailed investigations were completed for prosecution.
From 2003 through 2005, the Atlanta Police Department transitioned from centralized to decentralized criminal investigations. He moved to both Zone 1 and Zone 5 Criminal Investigation Units to supervise investigators within those commands. From 2005 through 2007, he worked as a supervisor in the Fugitive Unit. This unit included investigators assigned to the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force organized by the United States Marshal Service. The unit was responsible for apprehending dangerous felons wanted by the Atlanta Police Department, other jurisdictions and individuals identified by the task force.
In 2007, he went back to Zone 3 as a field supervisor and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2009. As a new Lieutenant, he commanded both Morning and Day Watch Units in Zone 4 field operations.
Transferred to the Vice Unit in 2011, he wrote the Standard Operating Procedures for the unit and implemented new technology for undercover work. To address human trafficking and web-based prostitution challenges, he formed a Hotel Council for the downtown district.
Promoted to Captain in 2013, he was the Zone 4 Assistant Zone Commander where he worked to improve community relationships and reduce crime. In 2015, he was promoted to Major and assigned as the Zone 5 Commander. His team in Zone 5 finished 2016 as the Crime Reduction Award winners for APD and continued reducing crime in 2017.
In August of 2017, he was promoted to Deputy Chief overseeing the Contingency Operations Division - responsible for the planning and execution of all major special events in the City of Atlanta to include: protests and demonstrations, large-scale parades and festivals and sporting events to include Super Bowl LIII. While in charge of the Public Safety plan for Super Bowl LIII, he successfully coordinated over 40 law enforcement agencies and over 3000 sworn officers. According to the NFL, this Super Bowl was one of the most successful in the history of the game.
After the Super Bowl, he was assigned to the Support Services Division, where he was responsible for the Corporate Services Section that oversees: APD’s $200 million budget, Personnel Services Section - Background and Recruitment and Personnel units, the Training Academy, the Information Services Section – Property and Evidence, Crime Lab, Fleet, Central Records and Supply and the E911 Communications Center that handles over 1 million calls for service annually.
Chief Kreher earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. He also served in the United States Navy. Additionally, he is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, The Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police and the Atlanta Police Department’s Leadership Institute Tier 5 program. He also participated in the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange program with Georgia State University and spent time in Israel with the Israeli National Police Force for leadership development. He also graduated as a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association PELI VI class.
Chief Kreher is a certified P.O.S.T. instructor and enjoys being a part-time instructor in Georgia State University’s Criminal Justice department, winning the 2018 Judge Andrew Mickle Outstanding Instructor Award. His goal every day is to treat everyone with dignity and provide safety to all those he swore an oath to protect.
As MARTA’s Chief of Police and Emergency Management, Chief Kreher is dedicated to keeping the system safe and protecting the 500,000 people that ride MARTA every day. He is committed to working in partnership with the community and providing well-trained officers to carry out the mission of the department. With his technical expertise and extensive leadership experience, Chief Kreher looks forward to guiding the MARTA Police Department into the future.
Contact Information
Chief M. Scott Kreher
- Email:
mkreher@itsmarta.com
- Direct Phone: 404-848-4917
- Administrative Assistant: Olivia Moore (404-848-5181)
Assistant General Manager Reporting to the Chief of System Safety, Security and Emergency Management:
AGM Safety & Quality Assurance - Gena Major
- Email:
gmajor@itsmarta.com
- Direct Phone: 404-848-5073
- Administrative Assistant: Tracy Kincaid (404-848-5377)