Lt. Joseph M. Kress

25+ years of decorated law enforcement service, narcotics investigations, and drug awareness education.

Career

Work History

1/04 — 11/08

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Federal Liaison / Lieutenant

Coordinated joint operations with federal agencies including the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, ICE, DEA, ATF, USDA-OIG, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of State and U.S. Coast Guard. During the 2004 Presidential Campaign, Lt. Kress supervised campaign visits for President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Senator John Kerry, Senator John Edwards, Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, and Mrs. Edwards.

1/02 — 1/04

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Narcotics and Vice Commander / Lieutenant

Supervised the Narcotics Unit and Criminal Drug Intelligence Division. Responsible for the direct supervision of eight investigators and one office manager. Oversaw drug law enforcement case management and coordinated drug buys, confidential informants, surveillance, wiretap activity, arrests, prosecutions, and joint operations.

5/96 — 1/02

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Narcotics Investigator / Detective Sergeant / SWAT Team Member

Supervised Detectives in the Narcotics Unit. Conducted surveillance, controlled hand-to-hand buys, wiretaps and recordings, arrests, search warrants, raids on drug distribution houses, and criminal prosecutions.

10/96 — 1/98

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Narcotics Investigator / Detective Sergeant (EAGLE) / SWAT

Served as Task Force Supervisor on the Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement Task Force — a multi-jurisdictional federal task force investigating top-level drug dealers. Deputized as an FBI Agent with federal authority.

5/86 — 10/94

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Fourth Platoon Member / Patrol Division

Special tactical unit responding to all critical incidents, high-risk arrests, and search warrant service. First responders for all high-risk incidents.

8/83 — 5/86

City of Erie Bureau of Police

Patrol Division / Patrol Officer

Regular patrol unit responding to all calls for service; effected hundreds of arrests for violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.

Assignments

Task Force Assignments

Pennsylvania Attorney General Task Force
Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement Task Force
Erie County Mobile Drug Task Force

Education

Formal Police Education & Training

Basic Municipal Police Training

Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Meadville, PA

August to November 1983

Precision Rifle Marksmanship Training

United States Special Forces

May 24, 1993

Advanced Sniper Course Project North Star

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy

September 23, 1993

Caribbean Organized Drug Crime

MAGLOCLEN

October 12, 1994

Narcotics in the Mail, Interdiction and Clandestine Labs

U.S. Department of Justice

February 23, 1995

Crack Cocaine & Street Level Drugs

Dade County Florida Sheriff’s Office

November 7, 1995

PA Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Training

PA State Police Academy, Hershey, PA

November 18, 1996

Rave Clubs and Club Drugs / Multi-jurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training

Florida National Guard

1998

Financial Investigations / Laundering Drug Proceeds

PA National Guard / Northeast Counterdrug Training Center

July 11, 2000

High Risk Warrant & Hostage Rescue Tactics

Blackwater Training Center

November 6, 2000

Drug Unit Commanders Academy

United States Drug Enforcement Administration

February 2002

Dignitary Protection Seminar

United States Secret Service

August 2004