By Cathy Logg
Herald Writer
MARYSVILLE — Robert Lenz has finally come home.
The 22-year Washington State Patrol veteran was born in Arlington and patrolled in Everett for nine years.
Now, Patrol Chief Ronal Serpas has promoted Lenz to captain and named him commander of District 7, which includes Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and Island counties.
"I’m excited to be here," Lenz said. "This is a great thing. I’ve come full circle."
Serpas, formally with the New Orleans Police Department, was appointed as the state patrol’s chief Aug. 1 by Gov. Gary Locke.
Lenz was one of seven appointments Serpas made to key patrol positions.
"We’ve brought in a chief from outside the agency," Lenz said. "He’s brought a fresh perspective on how to measure the agency. It’s exciting to be going in a different direction, and he’s going to lead us toward greatness."
Serpas took over the patrol after Annette Sandberg, the patrol’s first female chief, resigned. Sandberg won national recognition for her leadership, but faced critics who blamed her for low trooper morale.
Serpas’ selection fostered wide speculation that he was chosen specifically to calm the departmental waters after the controversies that dogged Sandberg.
District 7 headquarters in Marysville, in particular, has been a center of controversy over the past year, including administrative disciplinary actions taken by the patrol’s former senior leaders against two well-liked officers and the arrest of Mike Hoover, a chemist for 25 years at the patrol’s crime laboratory.
Hoover was sentenced last week to 11 months in jail for tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct after he was caught stealing heroin from drug samples sent to the lab for testing.
Lenz said that when patrol personnel walk by his door, he expects them to say hello, tell him about a recent stop they made or a fish they caught.
"I’m going to be here for a long time, and we’re going to get to know one another, and hopefully that’s the type of relationship we’ll have in the community as well," he said.
He wants to enhance the current focus on the most dangerous places where crashes and deaths occur, increase the number of stolen cars recovered and speed the response to reports by citizens of dangerous drivers.
"We’re going to be doing some new things," he said.
"It’s important for a district commander and lieutenants to understand what it’s like to be a trooper," he said.
"You always hear, ‘They’ve lost touch with what we do.’ Law enforcement changes, and we need to stay current with that," Lenz said.
"I’ve had people spit blood in my face. I’ve had a guy with tuberculosis sit in my car. Our troopers are out there 24 hours a day; we need to be out there 24 hours a day. We need to build a relationship of trust, and we need to know what’s going on."
Lenz’s most recent assignment was assistant district commander in Vancouver. He is a graduate of Marysville High School, he attended Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif., and Everett Community College. He served in the Army for four years as a police officer.
He and his wife, Karen, have been married nearly 25 years. They have a son, Jacob, 14. His hobbies include fishing, golf and travel.
You can call Herald Writer Cathy Logg at 425-339-3437 or send e-mail to
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