Former Shawano police officer Jeff Lenzner was sworn in Monday as a special agent with the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigations.
Lenzner, who was with the Shawano Police Department for eight years, was among 600 applicants for the job.
His father, George Lenzner, is a lieutenant with the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.
“You can imagine how happy and proud I am,” George Lenzner said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for him.”
Jeff Lenzner followed not only his father but also his great-grandfather into law enforcement. Clarence Lenzner was also a police officer with the Shawano Police Department.
“It’s what he wanted to do and I supported him,” George Lenzner said.
George said his son’s move to the DCI is a “win-lose” for him personally.
“I will miss him being in the area,” he said. “I’ll miss the grandkids, when they move there.”
Jeff Lenzner has had an interest in law enforcement since high school, when he was in the sheriff’s department’s Explorers program overseen by his father. Young adults, ages 14 to 20, take tours related to law enforcement, hear from guest speakers, and take part in discussions and projects under the program, and participate in “ride-alongs” with law enforcement.
Jeff also assisted the Police Department years before he was an officer, thanks to grants that allowed the department to send high schoolers into stores to see whether they could buy cigarettes and tobacco.
George said his son went through a rigorous process to get the job in Madison, which included an extensive background check and four interviews — the last of which was with the state attorney general.
Jeff’s grandmother, Mayor Lorna Marquardt, said it was a proud moment seeing her grandson sworn in Monday.
“As mayor, I will miss Officer Lenzner as a member of the city of Shawano’s Police Department. As a grandmother, I will miss having my grandson Jeff living across town and spending time with him,” she said. “I love Jeff’s enthusiasm for life, his commitment to his family and his dedication to law enforcement. His grandpa already misses their weekly Friday morning breakfast, but Jeff said they will reschedule for weekend breakfasts. Jeff possess a strong work ethic, a positive attitude and an incredible drive. He will do well.”
Police Chief Mark Kohl said he has mixed emotions about seeing Lenzner leave.
“I’ve known Jeff since he was a student at FVTC (Fox Valley Technical College), and I know he’ll be deeply missed at the Shawano Police Department,” he said. “Jeff had the desire to follow his career goals of becoming a special agent with DCI. Jeff told me about his career goals and applying for DCI last spring. You can’t hold a young officer back from reaching for his goals, but encourage to do his best to achieve them.”
Lenzner also made an impression with the district attorney’s office during his tenure with the Shawano Police Department.
“Jeff Lenzner is an officer that in my experience conducts himself in the highest ethical standards as a law enforcement officer,” Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker said. “He was truly a pleasure to work with and will be missed by my office. Jeff’s intuitive nature in carrying out his duties as an officer will continue to serve him well in his career as a special agent for the Department of Justice.”
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