Retired Arlington police chief dies

ARLINGTON – Retired Arlington Police Chief Steve Robinson died last weekend after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s. He was 68.

Robinson started his law enforcement career with the Tukwila Police Department in 1973, working his way up through the ranks to assistant chief before becoming Arlington’s Top Cop in 1990.

Robinson retired from the Arlington department in 2001, but a city news release says his positive influence and impact can still be seen throughout the city and department to this day.

Robinson was a husband, father and public servant showing his commitment to the community beyond policing as an active member of the Rotary Club of Arlington, Smokey Point Community Church and as a chairman with the Snohomish County Children’s Commission. He was volunteer to help with Special Olympics.

Sue, his wife of 48 years, said “he just loved the Arlington community.

“We had a wonderful life,” she said, “And we were blessed with a wonderful family.”

Current Police Chief Jonathan Ventura said Robinson was a true believer in community policing.

“He would see kids on the street hanging out, get out of his car, engage with them so that the next interaction would be even more positive,” Ventura said.

For example, there was the time that Robinson saw a girl at the carnival downtown who was holding a pack of cigarettes, but was too young to smoke. Instead of lecturing her, he traded her ride tickets, and the story goes that she never smoked again, city spokewoman Kristin Banfield said.

Ventura will never forget one phrase that Robinson used when the chief first hired him in 2000.

“See the words on the side of the patrol car. It doesn’t say ‘hook and book,” he told me. The point was as telling then as it is now, that police can’t arrest their way out of all of society’s problems. “If he did arrest you, you knew you were in real trouble.”

Ventura said Robinson was a huge advocate for children.

“If a crime against kids came in the door, he said to drop everything, we’re all working on this,” he said.

Ventura said if he does half as much in his career filling the shoes of the man who hired him, he’ll consider his time as Arlington’s top cop a success.

Banfield called Robinson a passionate leader and champion for his employees who “encouraged them to grow their careers, even if it meant leaving Arlington.”

One of her favorite memories happened when he came to a directors meeting with his Dr. Seuss hat and tie on. “It was Theodore Geisel’s birthday and the schools were celebrating by reading his books. After our meeting, Steve was heading up to one of the elementary schools to read Dr. Seuss with the kids.”

There will be a memorial service for Robinson at 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Smokey Point Community Church, 17721 Smokey Point Blvd.

Because of his love for law enforcement, children and youth, donations can be made in his name to Arlington Dollars For Scholars PO Box 43, Arlington, WA, 98223, to establish a scholarship for an Arlington High School senior who will be pursuing a career in some aspect of public service.

Mayor Barb Tolbert directed flags at all city buildings to be lowered to half-staff that day.

Retired Arlington police chief dies
Retired Arlington police chief dies