Colonel Reuben Greenberg collection

Reuben Greenberg (born 1943) was appointed Chief of Police of the Charleston Police Department in 1982, becoming the the first African American and first Jewish Chief of Police in Charleston, South Carolina. During his tenure (1982-2005), Reuben became known nationally and internationally for his innovative and controversial approach to fighting crime through prevention rather than reaction.

Reuben M. Greenberg was born in Texas in 1943. Raised a Methodist, he converted to Judaism, the religion of his Ukrainian paternal grandfather, in 1965 while he was a student activist in the civil rights movement in San Francisco. He was educated in California, earning a B.A. degree from San Francisco State in 1967 as well as a Masters in Public Administration in 1969 and a Masters in City Planning in 1975, both from the University of California at Berkeley.

After serving in police forces in Savannah, Georgia and various cities in Florida, he was appointed to Chief of Police of the Charleston Police Department on April 12, 1982. The first African American and first Jewish Chief of Police in Charleston, Greenberg became known for his innovative and controversial approach to fighting crime through prevention rather than reaction. During his tenure, the city of Charleston saw a drastic reduction in crime rates, leading Greenberg to travel within the country and abroad to discuss his tactics and their efficacy, producing several publications as well as receiving numerous awards and making frequent appearances on television and radio shows. He retired in 2005.

Greenberg held a position as Assistant Professor at California State University, Hayward, where he taught Sociology. He taught Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Criminal Justice at Florida International University.

Chief Greenberg was a member of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He served on the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board and as an elected officer of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association. He appeared on national television shows, including "60 Minutes," "Cross Fire," "The Morton Downey Show," "Modern Maturity," "The Editors," "Good Morning America," "The Today Show," "The 700 Club," and "Larry King Live."

Greenberg authored a number of police related articles and has appeared as a guest columnist for several newspapers, most notably the Detroit News. His first book, Let's Take Back Our Streets, was published in November 1989.

Chief Greenberg received the 1989 Achievement Award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice. In September 1991, he was named Justice Professional of the Year by the Southern Criminal Justice Association.

Source: Program, 29th Council Meeting, Police Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, September 1992.