A ceremony to remember police officers who died in the line of duty will kick off Police Week 2023 in Berrien County.
The Fraternal Order of Police Blossomland Lodge is set to honor 20 Berrien County officers who lost their lives in the line of duty at a in a Peace Officers Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 15 at noon.
The service will take place at Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph, in front of the Berrien County Law Enforcement Officer’s Monument. Seventeen of the officers are listed on the monument, with the other three being former long-time members of the Berrien County Community.
The officers include:
- PATROLMAN CLARENCE SHOCKLEY | Niles City Police Department | August 15, 1907
- TROOPER WILLIAM MARTZ | Michigan State Police Paw Paw Post | March 12, 1925
- PATROLMAN FRANCIS LAMUNION | Saint Joseph City Police Department | June 23, 1927
- PATROLMAN CHARLES SKELLEY | Saint Joseph City Police Department | December 14, 1929
- PATROLMAN VANCE COOPER | Niles City Police Department | March 4, 1937
- DEPUTY ELTON STOVER | Berrien County Sheriff Department | December 10, 1965
- SERGEANT ROBERT STEVENS | Benton Township Police Department | April 29, 1970
- TROOPER CHARLES STARK | Michigan State Police New Buffalo Post | December 31, 1971
- TROOPER GARY RAMPY | Michigan State Police New Buffalo Post | December 31, 1971
- TROOPER STEVEN DEVRIES | Michigan State Police Niles Post | October 12, 1972
- DETECTIVE/CAPTAIN PAUL WINQUIST | Niles City Police Department| November 11, 1980
- TROOPER ALLAN PETERSON | Michigan State Police Saint Joseph Post | August 29, 1981
- TROOPER ROBERT MIHALIK | Michigan State Police Saint Joseph Post | September 9, 1984
- PATROLMAN DONALD DEFORD | Lincoln Township Police Department | March 14, 1988
- CHIEF KEITH MILLS | Saint Joseph Township Police Department | October 18, 1988
- SECURITY SUPV. JOSEPH ZANGARO | Berrien County Trial Court | July 11, 2016
- COURT OFFICER RONALD KIENZLE | Berrien County Trial Court | July 11, 2016
- OFFICER ROBERT POLMANTEER | Phoenix Police Department | May 4, 1984
- SERGEANT JAMES FARAONE | Salt Lake City Police Department | September, 18, 2001
- SPECIAL AGENT PAUL SORCE | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Detroit, Michigan | March 9, 2009
Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week is an observance in the United States that pays tribute to the local, state, and federal peace officers who have died in the line of duty. The holiday was created on October 1, 1961, when Congress authorized the president to designate May 15 to honor peace officers. President John F. Kennedy signed the bill into law on October 1, 1962.
The event is open to the public, and State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt is scheduled to be the speaker. A fundraiser is also being held for future improvements at the monument site. Merchandise showcasing the names on the monument are available for purchase at bcfop23.itemorder.com/shop/sale/. Orders must be placed by May 31.
