Retired Arlington police chief passes away

Published 1:30 am Friday, September 14, 2018

ARLINGTON — Retired Arlington Police Chief Steve Robinson has died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Robinson served as police chief from 1990 to 2001. He came to the town after a 17-year career with the Tukwila Police Department, where he rose through the ranks from patrol officer to assistant chief.

Current police chief Jonathan Ventura said Robinson brought a culture of professionalism and community mindedness to the force.

“He was the embodiment of community policing,” said Ventura, who was hired by Robinson in 2000.

Robinson, 68, died last weekend, according to a news release.

Wherever Robinson went, he was always talking to people, said Kristin Banfield, city spokeswoman.

Like the time he saw a girl at the carnival who was holding a pack of cigarettes, but was too young to be smoking. Instead of reprimanding her, he traded her ride tickets, and the story goes that the girl never smoked again, Banfield said.

Or when he would show up to drug prevention programs called DARE at elementary schools and personally give medals to graduating students.

When it came to dealing with problems, Robinson would always try talking first, Ventura said.

“He was always very much against arresting people,” Ventura said. “Arrest was a last resort.”

Robinson was also a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington, Smokey Point Community Church and served as a chairman with the Snohomish County Children’s Commission.

Whenever an organization held an auction in the city, Robinson would inevitably be called on to play the part of auctioneer. He had a way of cajoling people into bidding more money, Banfield said.

Ventura credited Robinson for making the Arlington Police Department what it is today.

“He took us from a small one-horse town to the modern department (we have) now,” Ventura said.

After he retired, he could be seen riding his recumbent bicycle. He spent much of his post-working life going on bicycle tours, including one across the United States.

A memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at Smokey Point Community Church in Arlington.

Arlington Mayor Barb Tolbert directed flags to be lowered to half-staff on the same day, in his honor.

Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com.