Remembering Deputy Robert Tanner

The Muskingum County Sheriff’s office is remembering one of their own today.

Sheriff Matt Lutz says thirteen years ago today, Deputy Robert Tanner was shot and killed after pulling over a vehicle. Lutz says the Sheriff’s office is remembering the life of Deputy Tanner today, but they are reminded of his life in the office every day.

“He had a what I consider an infectious smile, he was always smiling, he was a very hard worker. He was out being active that day and stopped a car, you know, he wasn’t just sitting around waiting on the next call to come in, and so he was a very proactive deputy, very respected in the community, very respected by this office.”

Lutz says that since 2002, violence in the streets has really escalated, making it hard for officers and deputies to do their job.

“They stay tuned to the media as well and they see what’s going on around the world, they see how law enforcement is being treated, and they see how is examined and that’s the hard part. The officers on the street have less than 30 seconds to make decisions, and the decisions they make is split second time is examined and ridiculed for days and months and years.”

You can visit the Sheriff’s Facebook or Twitter page to view Tanners memorial and recent reflection posts.