Susan Martin's authority as a humane society police officer is revoked

The Lancaster County SPCA executive director will no longer handle reports of animal cruelty.

Susan Martin, the county's primary humane society police officer since 2014, "knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily agreed to the revocation of her powers and authority," according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Lancaster County district attorney's office.

President Judge Dennis Reinaker on Wednesday signed an order vacating Martin's authority.

Martin also signed the order, the district attorney's office reported.

Martin's authority was called into question after she declined to press charges regarding Libre, a puppy found near death on a farm in southern Lancaster County in July.

District Attorney Craig Stedman announced his intention to seek Martin's suspension during a press conference on Aug. 11.

'Substandard of conduct'

Although the Libre case sparked Stedman's investigation into Martin's performance, the civil action against her cited the "substandard of conduct normally expected of humane society police officers" as the reason for suspension.

Stedman intended to provide further evidence against Martin at a hearing before Reinaker on Aug. 22. That hearing, according to Stedman's office, has now been canceled.

"We are confident this would have been the end result of the scheduled hearing," Stedman said in a statement issued Wednesday morning. "The order's effect makes that hearing moot."

Brett Hambright, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said Wednesday afternoon that the evidence that would have been discussed at the hearing will likely not be released in another forum.

Martin said on Aug. 12 she would "gladly relinquish that license without any civil action." However, she stopped short of resigning then, saying she might choose to let the civil process play out so all the facts in the Libre case could be revealed.

Martin has said repeatedly that she decided not to press charges against Libre's former owner because she lacked sufficient evidence for a prosecution. She also insisted the district attorney's office was involved in making that decision, a statement the district attorney's office has denied.

The court action Wednesday does not change Martin's status as owner and executive director of the county SPCA.

Professional and collaborative

Stedman said he looks forward "to the future which will involve a more professionalized and collaborative approach to animal cruelty law enforcement in Lancaster County."

He also said he is making efforts to "facilitate legislative action regarding animal cruelty laws in Pennsylvania," and he said he is "eager to continue those discussions with lawmakers."

The district attorney's office will meet with representatives from the Humane Society of United States to develop a countywide training program for officers who will be involved in enforcement of animal cruelty laws, he added.

"I am confident that animals all over the county will be safer and more protected than ever before, prosecutions and investigations will be more professional, and the decisions to charge or not charge more consistent and fair to everyone," Stedman said.

Financial burden

Martin, in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon, lauded the decision, which she said takes a financial burden off her back.

"The DA's office announced that all animal cruelty investigations will be handled by the local and state police," she said. "With that being said, there was no reason to continue with the hearing process as it would not have changed the DA's decision of how animal cruelty will be handled going forward."

Martin said that animal cruelty investigations are "both time-consuming and expensive."

The SPCA receives about six cruelty reports daily, she said, and "driving to and investigating every report was quite time-consuming."

Investigations also placed her in "dangerous neighborhoods," she said.

Martin said the SPCA was "seriously considering pulling out of that line of work altogether mainly because of the financial expense.

"When you charge someone with cruelty, you have to keep and care for their animals not only until the hearing but also if they are found guilty until the appeals process has been completed, which can take years," she said. "Recently, we held and cared for 10 horses for two months, costing us $20,000."

She said the district attorney's commitment to work with state and local police to handle cruelty investigations is "great news."

"I would not have been willing to relinquish if that had not been the case," she said.

'Step in the right direction'

Jessica Blouch, who founded the Lancaster County Animal Coalition in an effort to raise funds for a new animal shelter to compete with the SPCA, said Wednesday she is pleased with the move.

"I think it's a step in the right direction," she said. "It definitely shows that, in at least one aspect, that (Martin) wasn't handling things properly."

Blouch said she is, however, a "little disappointed" that the district attorney's evidence against Martin will not now be disclosed.

"She had stated ... that she was going to let this play out so that everyone could see all of the facts in the case," Blouch said. "I think everyone should see all of the facts."