Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Michael Lutz was shot and killed with his own gun while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect at 4:30 am. Lieutenant Lutz was dispatched to a Maysville Pike gas station near Fink's Used Cars on a breaking and entering call. When Lieutenant Lutz approached the suspect, the man knocked him down, took his service weapon, and fired four shots. Lieutenant Lutz was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he died less than an hour later. The suspect, a parolee, was convicted of murder and was sentenced to death, but the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the sentence. In 2004 the suspect was re-sentenced to 60 years to life. His first parole hearing is in 2050. Lieutenant Lutz had served with the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department for 16 years. He was survived by his wife and son. His son was a deputy with the department at the time of his father's death and was elected sheriff of the same county, Muskingum, in 2008.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-03697FCA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Lutz gave the Muskingum County Sheriff's Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Zanesville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Lutz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Michael J. Lutz is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Muskingum County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael J. Lutz's cause is highlighted.
How Michael J. Lutz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael J. Lutz is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael J. Lutz was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Muskingum County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
