Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Lt. George Lenzner will replace Chief Deputy John Gutho after Gutho retires next month, becoming the department’s highest-ranking nonelected official.
Sheriff Adam Bieber said he promoted Lenzner to the post out of a pool of six candidates.
“George has proven his leadership and is well respected throughout our community and our partners in law enforcement throughout the state,” Bieber said. “I look forward to working with George moving this office forward.”
Lenzner has been with the sheriff’s department for 28 years.
He began at the jail before moving on to dispatch and then road deputy. He was later promoted patrol corporal, patrol sergeant and then patrol lieutenant.
He was also a Special Response Team leader and firearms instructor for many years.
Bieber said there will be another promotion from within the department to fill Lenzner’s post, opening up another deputy vacancy.
Gutho will retire on Jan. 5 after nearly 28 years with the department.