Ex-cop’s caring ways
earn a building in his name

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

In the 25-plus years since the murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner, Mike Lutz has been at the side of his widow Maureen.
When supporters of convicted killer Mumia Abu-Jamal staged a noisy rally in Harrisburg in 1994, it was Lutz who silenced William Cook — Abu-Jamal’s brother — with a couple of chest bumps. And when Abu-Jamal’s attorneys were in federal court last week claiming their client did not receive a fair trial, Lutz was in the courtroom with Mrs. Faulkner.
"Whenever I’ve turned around, Mike’s been there," said Faulkner, calling Lutz a "dear, dear friend."
When officer John Marynowitz was seriously wounded in a 1993 shooting that took the life of his partner, Robert Hayes, Lutz visited him during his long stays in a hospital and at a rehabilitation center.
"Michael Lutz was there for me," said Marynowitz, who still has a bullet in his brain.
Mindy Marynowitz, his wife, was grateful that Lutz, a longtime police union leader, visited her husband when he was in a coma for three months at Albert Einstein Medical Center. He was a "true gentleman" then and has become a good friend to the couple and their son Joey, who live in Bustleton.
"How blessed we were the day our paths crossed," Mrs. Marynowitz said.
Lutz’s concern for Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 members and their families is one reason he received a very special honor on Sunday afternoon. The police union dedicated and changed the name of its building to the Michael G. Lutz Lodge #5 Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police.
Several hundred people turned out for the ceremony at the union hall at 1336 Spring Garden St.
"I’m absolutely honored by it," said Lutz, a longtime Normandy resident who now lives in Langhorne. "It’s such an honor."
Lutz, who turned 65 earlier this month, is a proud native of Kensington, having grown up on Malta Street, near the famous "K & A" intersection. He attended North Catholic High School (Class of 1960) and entered the Philadelphia Police Academy in 1965. He attended St. Joseph’s University at night, graduating in 1970 with a degree in political science and social science.
In the police department, he worked at the district level and on the stakeout unit until reaching the rank of corporal in 1976. He later became a detective, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. He also served the FOP as recording secretary and first vice president.
After his retirement from the police department, he spent seven years as assistant regional director of the bureau of narcotics investigations in the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. In 1993, in the wake of a scandal surrounding FOP president John Shaw and his executive board, Lutz was elected to replace him. He went on to become state FOP president from 1998 to 2004. Today, he is the trustee chairman for the city FOP.
The crowd at the ceremony signed posters of congratulations, looked at a collage of pictures chronicling Lutz’s career. They also ate pieces from a giant cake and went home with commemorative pins. They read a comprehensive tribute booklet that listed all of his likes: the Civil War, Elvis Presley, coin collecting and Stock’s pound cake, among others.
Most of all, though, Lutz is a family man. He and his wife Annette will celebrate their 40th anniversary in September. They have two adult daughters and six grandchildren.
Lutz has some health concerns but he was more than cheered up by seeing so many old friends turn out for the occasion.
"There’s no greater recognition or tribute," he said.
Guests included City Councilman Jack Kelly, former Police Commissioner Kevin Tucker and an array of FOP officials.
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell presented Lutz with a resolution honoring him for bringing integrity, stability and credibility to the lodge in 1993. Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis O’Brien also gave him a citation listing his many accomplishments.
"It’s three pages long," O’Brien said.
Chuck Canterbury, a South Carolinian and president of the national Fraternal Order of Police, announced that Lutz will join a select group of individuals who have received the prestigious President’s Award.
The only other people to receive the award have been U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Pat Stark, a former national FOP president who was honored posthumously.
Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Seamus McCaffery, a former Philadelphia policeman, described Lutz as "a cop’s cop" and labeled him the lodge’s "statesman." Nobody, he said, ever has a bad word to say about Mike Lutz.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ron Castille, a former Philadelphia district attorney, remembers prosecuting thugs who stole Lutz’s purse while he was a member of the police department’s granny squad. Castille recalls Lutz’s nickname as "Brickhead" because he took a brick to the head during a mugging.
In his jobs heading the city and state FOP, everybody agrees that Lutz did well by his members in terms of wages, benefits and working conditions, but he did more than that. He was always the first one in the office and constantly asked others to call on him in need, at any time.
Rich Costello, a former Lodge 5 president, said Lutz is a loyal friend and a hard worker.
Bob Hurst, another former Lodge 5 president and Lutz’s partner in the granny squad, described his friend as someone who did the right thing even when nobody was looking. He called him honest, humble, caring and a man of character.
"Mike Lutz is full of goodness," he said.
Bob Eddis, the current Lodge 5 president who is not seeking another term, surprised the honored guest by unveiling the lodge’s new logo that includes Lutz’s name.
"Michael Lutz is the FOP," Eddis said.
Lutz was overwhelmed at the outpouring of good will on his behalf and said he will cherish the honor.
"It’s something I will savor for the rest of my life," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com