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Muskingum County

Muskingum County. Exotic Animal Incident. Muskingum County. Located in South Eastern Ohio. Large farming and Agriculture community. Population - 86,000 Square miles – 680 County Seat – Zanesville. City sits in the middle of our county and I-70 from Columbus goes straight through.

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Muskingum County

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  1. Muskingum County Exotic Animal Incident

  2. Muskingum County • Located in South Eastern Ohio. • Large farming and Agriculture community. • Population - 86,000 • Square miles – 680 • County Seat – Zanesville. City sits in the middle of our county and I-70 from Columbus goes straight through

  3. Sheriff Matt Lutz • Took over as Sheriff on Jan 5, 2009. • Will have 23 years complete on March 12 • Started out at 20yoa as a dispatcher. • Worked as a corrections officer, a road deputy, a road Sergeant and a road Lieutenant. Also served as a Detective and also as a Detective Sergeant. • Appointed Police Chief in S. Zanesville.

  4. The Call • The call came in at 5:00pm 10/18/2011 • The caller was Dolly Kopchak. Her son, Sam was outside and spotted the loose exotic animals. • Was getting his pony in while a Lion watched him. • Was very calm. Have lived beside the Thompson Farm for a long time.

  5. The Response • My office has 110 employees and we have a jail. • We have 32 primary response deputies. • We had 6 on duty during this shift. • Sgt. Steve Blake was the OIC. • Dep. Jonathon Merry was one of the first to arrive on scene.

  6. Response…con’t • Dep. Merry encountered animals immediately. Shot a Wolfe, a Black Bear and a Lion. • Sgt. Blake called Capt. Lecocq. • Capt. Lecocq called me and I responded to the scene.

  7. My Response • Had just finished supper. Was my only night off that week. • Capt. Lecocq called me. We thought we had 1 or 2 animals loose. • Had prior knowledge of the farm, the type and volume of the animals that were there. • Rescue animals • This really helped.

  8. My Response…con’t • While in route, heard the radio traffic. Knew we had a huge problem. • Made the DECISION. Was not hard. • Have never thought twice about it. • Familiarity with the farm helped. • Public safety was the only thing on my mind.

  9. My Response…con’t • First calls were to my EMA Coordinator and my Director of Operations. • I wanted to get an Emergency Broadcast Message out. • They took charge and did numerous things without me. (ie. EOC, Restrooms, Food, Tents, location) • Called for Zoo and Wilds

  10. The Scene • Upon arrival – Animals laying dead • Spoke to caretaker and Capt. Lecocq started an inventory list. • Called for SRT – Equipment – • Started a containment plan. • 1st initiative was to secure scene. • Evaluate.

  11. The Scene…con’t • Sgt. Blake had discovered deceased. • Placed him in truck, shooters in back. • Patrolled farm to secure. • Placed 2nd truck on the back side of property. • Placed two deputies on I-70 w/light plants. • Used Fire Departments for lighting

  12. The Scene…con’t • Shooters were using .308 and .223 rifles. • Were shooting to kill. Multiple shots. Did not want a wounded animal. • Ran low on ammo. Know your contacts. • Cancelled schools. Spoke with Supers. • OSHP and ODN were a big help.

  13. Recovery • Secured the scene that night at about 1100pm to 1130pm. Drive arounds. • Had two deputies stay for security and they started inventory. Handled theft case. • Weather report. Huge asset. • Next day, continued to search for animals. • Located tiger??? Tried to dart!!!!! • Animals buried on property.

  14. Jack Hannah • Can’t imagine what the outcome would have been without him. • Big supporter • Interviews • Task Force • Surviving animals

  15. Media • I learned a lot from trainings and conferences. • We scheduled press conferences and they pretty much left us alone. • Had someone designated in taking calls and requests from the media – story. • Had them state who they worked for. • Didn’t speculate….

  16. Media…con’t • They media tried to get me to expand… • Kept focused on the issue. • Didn’t want to turn it into a mockery. • Still had a victim. • Had a pre-news conference meeting with staff each time to talk about what was to be released and what wasn’t. • Fed them.

  17. Aftermath • With every decision there is going to be the chance of criticism from one side. • Have to have thick skin. • Dispatchers took the majority. • Debrief • Take care of your people – help if needed. • Negative voice mail, email and regular mail.

  18. Aftermath…con’t • Most did not have the facts and circumstances. • Support from the public was a huge boost. • Support from Elected Officials and other agencies helped. • It is important to establish contacts and make calls to those people before you actually need them.

  19. Anything Different??? • Nothing on decision. • Would have set up separate phone line for the dispatchers to take off pressure. • Accountability could have been better in the first 6-8 hours. • No cameras on site? • Should have tried more legal issues about this farm. Topic was hot issue. Task force.

  20. Questions????? • Sheriff Matt Lutz • Muskingum County Sheriffs Office • 1840 East Pike • Zanesville, Ohio 43701 • 740-455-7928 • 740-819-6029

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