About The Blue Lane

Founder | Strategic Advisor | Leadership Consultant

Joseph S. Fitzgerald is a veteran police administrator and nationally recognized consultant specializing in strategic planning, organizational change management, and succession planning for public safety organizations.

With over two decades of leadership experience in law enforcement — from first responder to executive command — he understands the operational, cultural, and political realities police agencies face today. His background includes overseeing major initiatives in accreditation, modernization, leadership development, and infrastructure planning, always with a focus on strengthening agencies for the future.

Joseph's perspective is unique: he blends practical law enforcement leadership with proven private sector strategies, having served as a Senior Consultant for Deloitte’s Government and Public Sector practice, where he worked with state and federal agencies on organizational transformation and strategic workforce initiatives.

Joseph holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. His academic research and fieldwork focus on aligning leadership behaviors with organizational success in public safety environments.

As a long-standing Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, Joseph has taught hundreds of police executives across the country how to drive change, develop leaders, and adapt to evolving community expectations.

His approach is practical, customized, and rooted in real-world experience. Whether your agency is preparing for growth, navigating complex change, or planning its next chapter of leadership, Joseph's  mission is to help you achieve lasting results.