Police agencies from throughout Berrien County gathered in St. Joseph Thursday to hold the annual Fraternal Order of Police memorial service for fallen officers.
All 20 of the county police officers to have died in the line of duty were honored for their sacrifices, along with three officers from the area who died serving other communities. Their names were read while surviving family and police laid flowers on the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial Monument at Lake Bluff Park.
Keynote speaker and Our Lady of the Lake Athletic Director Phil McDonald said the men and women who serve their community each day are heroes in his book. The annual event ensures those who were lost are never forgotten.
“We enjoy every day we have because of the men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting us and serving our community,” McDonald said.
McDonald said it’s important to see more than the uniform when meeting a police officer. He said it’s just as important to see the person behind it.
Police fired off a 21-gun salute and a color guard was presented.
The last officers to be lost in Berrien County were Court Security Officer Ron Kienzle and Court Supervisor Joe Zangaro, who were killed in a courthouse shooting on July 11, 2016, meaning next year will be the tenth anniversary of that tragedy.
