Toledo Police Chief Troendle to Retire Nov. 1; Kevin Braun Named Successor

Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle plans to retire Nov. 1, and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has named Assistant Chief Kevin Braun as his successor.

The city announced the leadership change July 22. Troendle and Braun are expected to work through a planned 90-day transition, meaning Braun has been selected but has not yet formally taken over the department.

Who will lead Toledo police

Braun is a Toledo native and Libbey High School graduate who joined the Toledo Police Department in December 2000. He has advanced from sergeant to assistant chief through assignments involving field operations, vice and narcotics, public information, community services, investigations, crisis intervention and critical-incident negotiation.

He is a graduate of Tiffin University, Bowling Green State University and the FBI National Academy. Local reporting by 13abc described Braun as a candidate with deep ties to Toledo and extensive experience across the department.

His selection represents an internal-continuity plan rather than an immediate move to an outside leader. The city has not announced policy changes, staffing decisions or new enforcement priorities for Braun’s tenure.

What Troendle leaves behind

Troendle is retiring after more than 32 years with the Toledo Police Department. During his tenure, the department implemented intelligence-led policing and developed its Real-Time Crime Center, which the city has identified as part of its broader public-safety strategy.

The timing also comes as Toledo continues to focus on violent-crime reduction, officer support, community engagement and coordination with other public-safety agencies. In a July 9 update, the city reported a 25% reduction in first-half homicides compared with the same period in 2025. That figure is a limited year-over-year comparison and does not measure every type of crime or establish a full-year trend.

What residents should watch next

The next major milestone is Troendle’s scheduled last day on Nov. 1, 2026. Until then, the department will operate under the announced transition plan, with Troendle and Braun expected to work together to preserve continuity.

Residents, neighborhood groups and local businesses may want to watch for Braun’s plans after he takes office, including any announcements involving department staffing, officer support, technology, community-engagement efforts or public-safety partnerships. Those decisions have not been announced as part of the July 22 succession notice.

For now, Toledo has a named successor and a transition timetable, but the leadership change remains planned rather than complete.

Sources

• City of Toledo announcement on the chief transition
• 13abc profile of Kevin Braun
• The Blade report on the succession