Employee Spotlight - MPD Animal Control Ofc. Luke Ziccardi
Published on January 05, 2022
Ofc. Luke Ziccardi joined MPD in July 2020, as an animal control officer. At that time, Luke transferred to MPD as an animal control officer from Pinal County. Prior to getting into animal control, Luke was a commercial airline pilot. Luke left that lucrative and prestigious industry to pursue more time with his family. Luke became an animal control officer because he enjoys working with animals and enjoys being a public servant to the people and animals in his community.
Luke grew up in Arizona and graduated from ASU with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After college, Luke became a farrier (a specialist in equine hoof care) and opened his own horse shoeing business. Luke moved on from there to pursue his passion for aviation and became an airline pilot for the next 10-years; however, the demanding cross-country work schedule kept him away from home too many days and nights each week. Putting his family first, Luke opted to pursue another passion, working with animals, and the rest as they say is history!
Hobbies / Other Interests:
- Family time.
- Raising and riding horses.
- Camping.
- Hunting.
- The art of BBQ cooking.
Special Talent
Favorites:
- Sports teams: Daughter’s softball team / AZ Diamondbacks.
- Restaurants: Can’t Stop Smokin’ BBQ Smokehouse / Grimaldi’s Pizzerias – both in Tempe.
- Ice cream: Tillamook Vanilla Bean.
- Movies: The Electric Horseman / A Good Year.
- Music: County - Jason Aldean / Sam Hunt.
Something his co-workers don’t know about him:
Luke is a BBQ master – no, a BBQ super hero! Luke takes his BBQ very seriously. He has all the toys the pros have – you know…the Traeger pellet grill, the 800-lb. BBQ steel smoker, and all the other toys. Luke enjoys having BBQ cookouts with family and friends and is open to showing off his skills among any other BBQ aficionados brave enough to challenge him in the Cookout of Champions!
Most embarrassing moment:
Once, when Luke was at a house party, he walked through a closed screen door that had previously been open. Luke landed face-first in the backyard on the mangled screen in front of everyone. The good news was that he managed to keep the two beverages he was holding in each hand safe!
Proudest accomplishments:
Being a good dad. Being an airline pilot.
Career Highlight:
On one occasion Luke responded to a report of two lost dogs. The owner of the dogs was distraught and in tears. Luke was able to find the dogs and safely reunite them with their owner. Hometown hero!
Favorite part of the job:
Protecting and serving his community / Helping animals and educating owners on how to provide optimal care to their pets.
Least favorite part of the job:
Barking dog complaints.
Worst job ever:
When Luke was in high school, he took a job working for a moving company. Moving furniture all day long was the most boring thing he’d ever done.
Definition of success:
Being able to honestly say that as a husband, a dad, a pilot, an animal control officer, or in any endeavor, that he did his absolute best.
Role models / Influences:
Luke’s dad was a man of integrity, who lived a life that modeled honesty and ethics for Luke. He taught Luke that if you have a clean conscience, you’ll have good sleep each night. The other person who had a big influence on Luke was USAF test pilot Chuck Yeager, who was the first person to break the sound barrier.
Luke, you’re an asset to our team and it’s an honor to serve with you!
Well, that concludes this edition of the MPD Employee Spotlight. Stay tuned for the next edition, coming soon!