Deputy Chief Reina grew up in Western New York and holds a Master’s Degree of Studies in Law from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Canisius College, Buffalo, New York. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1997.
In 2001, he promoted to Field Training Officer in the Wilshire Division, and then to the rank of Sergeant in 2002. Throughout his tenure as a Sergeant, he worked a variety of assignments including Pacific Area Adjutant, and the Hollenbeck and Pacific Area Gang Enforcement Details. In 2008, he was promoted to Assistant Watch Commander in Pacific Area, a position he held for a year before taking over as the Officer-in-Charge of the Pacific Area Beach Detail from the spring of 2009 to the fall of 2011. He was named Supervisor of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
He was also the first recipient of the Mark Brown Award, presented by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, in recognition for his work in the Venice Beach area and with providing insight related to the revision of the Venice Beach vending ordinance. He also received numerous Certificates of Recognition and Appreciation from former Councilman Bill Rosendahl, 11th District, for his work in the Venice Beach and Oakwood Areas.
Deputy Chief Reina promoted to Lieutenant in the fall of 2011 and was assigned to the Hollywood Patrol Division. Soon after, he promoted to the position of Commanding Officer of Hollywood Area Detectives, where he had the opportunity to oversee many high-profile cases, including the first arrest ever made by the Los Angeles Police Department for the crime of celebrity “Swatting” as well as the highly publicized investigation and arrest of a group of individuals wanted for brutally assaulting a transgender female on Hollywood Boulevard.
In 2014, Deputy Chief Reina was selected as the Assistant Officer-in-Charge of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team, where he had the privilege of supervising the most elite SWAT team in the country, and the opportunity to establish relationships with many different agencies and tactical teams. In February 2015, he was promoted to Captain and assigned as the Commanding Officer of 77th Street Patrol Division.
In December 2016, he promoted to Commanding Officer of Central Area. In February 2019, he was promoted to Commander and assigned to Operations-Central Bureau. In 2020, he held the position of Commanding Officer of Traffic Group and soon after was selected as the Employee Relations Administrator for the Department. In January of 2021, Commander Reina was assigned to the position of Commanding Officer, Training Bureau and sworn in as a Deputy Chief in July 2021.
Deputy Chief Reina has vast experience in dealing with community issues, has been an advocate for child welfare and has worked closely with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services for many years. He has also worked with many law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, during joint, in-depth investigations.
Deputy Chief Reina is committed to strengthening the relationships between the Department and the community it serves. He is a member of the Department’s ice hockey team, enjoys running, and educates elementary students and young adults regarding personal safety and career opportunities in the law enforcement field.