The supervisor over the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter has been reassigned to another post while police conduct an internal investigation involving her employment.
Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. Edwin Ritter was tight-lipped about the probe into Lt. Mary Lou Respess on Friday, and provided answers to only a limited number of questions via email. Ritter said he cannot discuss the details of the investigation until 10 days after it is closed. The investigation began Jan. 27 and is still open, he said.
Respess has been the manager of Animal Control, which falls under the umbrella of the Gwinnett County Police Department, for about five years and has been employed by the county for 28 years. She is working in an "administrative position" while the probe is pending, Ritter said.
Maj. Dan Bruno is handling the day-to-day operations of the shelter, which fall under his purview since he is the commander of Support Operations.
Ritter said operations at the Animal Control Shelter would not be affected. The shelter handled more than 10,000 animals last year, saw more than 28,000 visitors and collected $96,658 in fees.
Randy DeCarlo, a Lilburn resident who rescues basset hounds and advocates for a no-kill policy at the shelter, has been at odds with Respess over the years about euthanization and various other shelter policies. DeCarlo said shelter employees told him the investigation is about office politics. He said Respess was accused of creating a hostile work environment.
Jane Stewart, who is on the Gwinnett County Animal Task Force and is executive director of the Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Suwanee, said Respess was always very knowledgeable about shelter operations.
She said Respess has been helpful to task force members, who are reviewing the county's animal-related ordinances and services and making recommendations for improvement.
The task force has not been told why Respess was removed from her post.
"I wish I did know," Stewart said. "It was all pretty sudden and a bit of a shock to everybody."
About the Author
