Lane served more than 31 years as a law enforcement officer prior to becoming the Wise County Sheriff.

He began his career at Dallas Fort Worth Airport with their Department of Public Safety (DPS) when the airport opened in 1974. Two years later, Lane joined the Texas DPS. He served as a Highway Patrol Trooper, a Narcotics Agent, Texas Ranger and a Texas Ranger supervisor. Lane was a member of the first DPS Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for Region 1. Just prior to retirement, he was the supervising Texas Ranger Lieutenant for Company “B,” the northeastern corner of Texas.

In 2009 and 2010, he was the Enforcement Captain for Wise County Sheriff's Office.
A native of Texas, Lane earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M Commerce. He and his wife Kay moved to Decatur in 1992 where Lane served as the Texas Ranger for Wise, Jack, and Montague County. He was twice named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Wise, Jack, and Montague County Criminal Justice Association.