Oakland County Sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Lenz has only been working in Oxford Township a few short years, but he’s definitely made a good impression on his fellow officers and the citizens he serves.

As such, Lenz has been named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the local and state levels of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

He received a certificate from North Oakland VFW Post 334 last week and will receive his state award from the VFW Department of Michigan at its 99th annual convention in June at the Holiday Inn in Flint.

“It’s an honor,” Lenz said. “It’s humbling and unexpected. It’s a motivator for me to continue to work hard and do a good job for the citizens here.”

Mike Ledford, community service officer for Post 334, presented Lenz with the local award. He believes first-responders are “fighting the same campaigns” as men and women in the military “just in a different way.”

“They’re still out there on the front lines every day,” said Ledford, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. “They need to be recognized for their accomplishments.”

Lenz grew up in St. Clair Shores and received his associate’s degree in law enforcement from Macomb Community College.

He began his career with the sheriff’s office in August 1997 as a part-time deputy working in court services. He went to full-time in May 1998.

“I like working outdoors. I like meeting new people every day. I like to be independent, kind of my own boss. Looking at everything I like, law enforcement (met) all that criteria,” Lenz explained.

Over the years, he’s worked road patrol, been assigned to the Royal Oak Township and Rochester Hills substations, and performed undercover work. He was a member of the sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) for 12 years and worked with the Detroit Commercial Auto Theft Squad (CATS).

Lenz became the Oxford substation’s second-in-command in June 2016.

During his time here, the sergeant has earned a reputation for being relentless when it comes to solving cases. He doesn’t mind taking phone calls or getting text messages at all hours of the day if it means putting the bad guys behind bars while keeping citizens safe and their property secure.

“I’ve got three basic rules – don’t break anything, don’t steal anything and don’t hurt anyone,” he told the Leader during a March 2017 interview. “I’ve got a zero tolerance for anybody that does that. I’ll work the case 24-7. I’ll catch that person. You break one of those three, I’m going to put you in jail or prison.”

Lenz works to instill that same ethic in the officers that serve under him. He believes Oxford is a nice community and there’s no room for those who steal, vandalize property and hurt others. Anything less is unacceptable to him.

To Lenz, the most rewarding part of his job is teaching, training and motivating the officers he works with “to do the best they can” every day.

The sergeant’s work ethic and the results he’s achieved has impressed his immediate superior, Lt. Scott Patterson, commander of the substation since 2011.

“He has shown outstanding leadership in his role as sergeant,” wrote Patterson in the nomination he submitted to the VFW. “He has been able to teach and pass on his tactical knowledge . . . to the officers in Oxford.”

Patterson noted Lenz’s skills have allowed him to contribute to making Oxford a better place in a variety of ways, from using his experience as an investigator to recover stolen handguns to assisting the fire department by administering chest compressions to a victim.

“He has done everything that I have asked him to do and then some,” the lieutenant wrote. “He adjusts his schedule to complete all tasks. He has been an asset to me and the sheriff’s office as a whole.”

As much as Lenz appreciates the recognition, he made it clear that it’s not a one-man show at the substation.

“I think everything’s going smooth in Oxford – knock on wood – because of the hard work and dedication of all the deputies that work out here. Everybody’s doing their best and working with the community as a whole,” he said. “It’s just the end result of good police work that crime’s at an all-time low.”

Don’t think for a second that these VFW awards will go to Lenz’s head or encourage him to rest on his laurels.

“My biggest challenge is always trying to do the best I can,” the sergeant said. “When I find myself doing really good, I try to push (myself) to do even better.”

Lenz hopes people will remember that law enforcement officers are here to protect them and help them, so they can enjoy their community and not have to live in fear of the criminal element. He believes there’s no need for people to have an adversarial relationship with police.

“We are your best friend and your best asset,” he said. “We’re here to help everybody. We’re not your enemy. We’re not here to punish you or hold you accountable for every last thing . . . We’re your police. We’re not out to get you.”