Berrien County honors fallen officers

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BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- Dozens of people attended the annual Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial Day service in Berrien County to honor those officers who have died in the line of duty.

The service was held at noon at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Monument in Lake Bluff Park. It was hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police Blossomland Lodge #100 in conjunction with local law enforcement.

Twenty officers and their families were honored, including the 17 listed on the monument and three former residents who died in the line of duty in other parts of the country.

The officers honored 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

Former residents serving outside of the area

  • 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
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