For 22 Years, When Round Hill Needed Steady Leadership, Lee Mlejnek Was There.

In today’s age, there is no price that can be put on safety. Peace of mind is priceless when it comes to living in a secure home without fear or trepidation. Most importantly, if danger does strike, it’s always good to know that a sheriff is always available when you need them most. Thanks to Lee Mlejnek, who has faithfully served on P5 for 22 years, Round Hill has been a safer place.

Lee never sought recognition, applause, or credit. He simply showed up, month after month, year after year, making sure Round Hill remained the safe, quiet, and closely connected community he fell in love with. Originally from San Francisco, he and his wife Elaine moved to Round Hill in 1986. A general dentist by profession, Lee got involved in P5 in 2002 after being invited by a neighbor. He agreed without hesitation, not realizing he’d be saying “yes” to two decades of community involvement.

“My primary responsibility was attendance and participation at meetings,” he comments. “Issues came up with security, safety, and traffic control.” Those issues were discussed as well as financial considerations. P5 was responsible for bringing on deputies to work in the area. Because P5 contracts directly with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, financial planning has always been a critical part of the committee’s work. Rising costs meant the committee had to think years ahead to avoid cutting back on deputies or service hours.

In 2009, Lee became the committee’s secretary, a role he has fulfilled for 15 years. Month after month, he wrote the minutes, providing clear, accurate summaries for residents who couldn’t attend meetings but wanted to stay informed. The meeting held this past December marked the final set of minutes he recorded.

Over the years, P5 has made a tangible difference in the community. What’s their most significant accomplishment? That dates back between 2017 and 2018, when P5 found itself deficit spending. Reserve funds, built over years, were diminishing. Without action, Round Hill risked losing the level of sheriff coverage that kept the neighborhood safe.

Lee and the committee faced a difficult reality: either decrease service or ask residents to approve an increase in the special assessment tax. They chose to take the issue to the voters.

“The first time, the vote didn’t pass,” Lee recalls. “So we went back out again.”

Committee members canvassed the neighborhood twice, walking door to door, talking with residents, and explaining the stakes. The second vote passed, preserving the level of sheriff presence Round Hill had long relied on, while allowing P5 to rebuild its reserve for the future.

“It was a big deal,” Lee says. “We couldn’t have continued the same level of service without it.”

Today, P5 contracts two full-time deputies, a critical resource for everything from routine patrols to medical calls where deputies often arrive before paramedics.

Serving on P5 brought Lee closer to neighbors he might never have met otherwise. As he explains, “You get to know people in the neighborhood that you might not meet any other way.” Since he and Elaine didn’t join the local country club, the committee became a way to stay connected and engaged.

Over the years, he reminded residents to stay vigilant, secure their property, and call the sheriff’s department whenever something seemed unusual. Small actions that, collectively, help keep Round Hill safe.

With his P5 service concluding, Lee looks forward to spending more time in his home garage, working on the classic Porsches he loves. Since the age of 15, Lee has been taking cars apart and putting them back together. As he says, “I became involved with the Porsche brand in 1972 and have had a Porsche continually since then.” He and Elaine share their home with their cat, Lucky.

We want to thank Lee for his service to the community, bringing peace of mind to his neighbors and safety to Round Hill. He has made a difference for countless residents through the years and is to be commended for his leadership.