Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner Announces Retirement

Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner.

Elk Grove Police Department Chief Robert Lehner announced today that he will be retiring from his position effective this October.

“Things are going well and, after eight years, it feels like the right time to pursue other opportunities and challenges,” said Lehner in a statement released earlier this afternoon.

Lehner, who was hired as the Elk Grove's second Chief in 2008, learned earlier today that he was not selected as the next Chief of the Spokane Wash. Police Department. Lehner was one of two finalists for that city's top law enforcement job.

Spokane passed over one other finalist in a nation-wide search and selected an internal candidate for the position. Over the last two years Lehner was also a finalist for similar positions in Seattle and Corpus Christi, Texas police departments.

Prior to coming to Elk Grove, Lehner was Chief of the Eugene, Ore. Police Department and started his 30-plus year law enforcement career with the Tuscon, Ariz. Police Department, where he rose to the rank of Senior Assistant Chief. 

“Chief Lehner is a stellar leader and has done a remarkable job building the Elk Grove Police Department from the ground up,” Elk Grove Mayor Gary Davis said. “He will be missed, but I respect his desire to move on. The City of Elk Grove is one of the safest cities in northern California and Chief Lehner is a big reason for that."

Since joining the EGPD Lehner spearheaded several initiatives in the department including introduced Safety Town, a child accident prevention program for pre-kindergarten children. During Lehner's tenure the department also partnered with the Elk Grove Soroptimist Club and Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) to increase the availability of resources for victims of dating and domestic violence, and implemented Project Lifesaver, a free program designed to track and rescue those with cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, autism, Down syndrome and dementia who wander away from home.

The city did not immediately announce any plans on how it will fill the position. The Elk Grove Police Department currently has over 130 sworn officers and 85 civilian employees. 

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve this remarkable community,” said Lehner.