oregon state police

Oregon State Police Capt. Jeff R. Lanz was charged Wednesday with official misconduct and third-degree theft, accused of misusing a state gas card on six occasions.

(The Oregonian)

An Oregon State Police captain Wednesday became only the second high-ranking official in the history of the agency to face criminal charges.

Jeff R. Lanz, 39, of Albany, is accused of using a state-issued gas card on six occasions from last October to April to fuel his personal car.

The value in each instance was less than $100, according to an information filed by the Linn County District Attorney's Office. Lanz faces six counts of first-degree official misconduct, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, and six counts of third-degree theft, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail.

George Eder, Linn County deputy district attorney, said Lanz's arraignment was pending.

Eder declined comment on whether Lanz had been arrested. So did the State Police. The Linn County Sheriff's Office said that as of Wednesday afternoon, Lanz had not been booked.

Lanz's attorney, Michael Staropoli of Portland, didn't return telephone or email messages seeking comment.

Lanz commanded the Office of Professional Responsibility. One of its principle duties is to conduct internal investigations of State Police employees. He was a lieutenant when he took over the office in July 2011 and won promotion to captain a year later.

Besides internal affairs, his office handles personnel, training and risk management.

Lanz, who joined the State Police in 1999, was put on paid administrative leave April 29. He continues to draw his monthly pay of $7,550, but his status is being assessed, according to Lt. Gregg Hastings, State Police spokesman.

According to court records, Lanz has been sued by collection agencies three times the past three years in small claims court in Linn County. The nature of the claims, eventually dismissed, couldn't be immediately determined.

The State Police so far have not released Lanz's application to join the agency. They also have yet to provide the agency's policies on gas card use, requested by The Oregonian last week.

The State Police haven't faced such a circumstance in its command ranks for more than 20 years.

Robert R. Moine, a major, was indicted in 1991 on bribery and official misconduct charges for taking gifts from developers and property owners leasing office space to the State Police. Moine was in charge of the leasing. He retired shortly before he was charged, was subsequently convicted, and sentenced to probation and fined $20,000.

He was the first high-ranking official to be charged with criminal conduct in the history of the State Police, which was founded in 1931.

In 2010, Anthony A. Atkins, a trooper in Hermiston, was charged with filing false time cards and misusing a state gas card. He was eventually convicted on two counts, but his punishment couldn't be immediately determined. He was investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility and was sentenced four months before Lanz took it over.

-- Les Zaitz