Local Law Enforcement Showing Their Support for a Fallen Officer

Local law enforcement officers are planning to show their support after the shooting death of a Danville Policeman on Sunday.

The funeral arrangements are set for Thomas Cottrell Jr. who died in the line of duty. Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said when one officer falls the entire law enforcement community feels it.

“It’s a fraternity, it’s a fraternal family and when you badge on no matter whether it’s a city badge or a county badge. We would fly to help the Zanesville Police Department just as soon as we would fly to help our own people, that’s the fraternity of it. I think when something like this happens we’ve been very blessed that we had the support when it happened to us twice so we always tried to show that support to other agencies when they have gone through something like this,” said Sheriff Lutz.

Not only does Lutz know the dangers that come along with the job, he also understands first hand how it feels to lose someone in the line duty.

“My father was killed back in 1994 so I’ve been around it, I started in 1989 and we lost Robert in 2002. I think getting into law enforcement and you see what type of people get into law enforcement, they’re special people because, they don’t get rich from this job but, you get a gratifying experience by being able to help somebody,” said Sheriff Lutz.

Lutz said he will be attending officer Cottrell’s funeral service on Saturday along with many other officers from his department.