Ceremony to honor fallen law enforcement officers set for May 15 in St. Joseph

Posted By: Staff
May 1, 2025 @ 9:00 pm
Local News

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A memorial service to honor fallen police officers from across Berrien County will be held this month in St. Joseph.

Berrien County Undersheriff Greg Sanders tells us the Fraternal Order of Police Blossomland Lodge will host the annual event at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial Monument along the bluff on May 15.

All 20 of the county’s police officers to have died in the line of duty will have their names read. Sanders says they go back as far as Patrolman Clarence Shockley of the Niles Police Department, who died on August 15, 1907.

“How important that is that we remember these individuals, even though it’s been over a hundred years here,” Sanders said. “But that is important for us, and it just demonstrates, I guess, how difficult this world can be.”

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. Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit says it’s hard to believe it’s been almost ten years.

“It’s coming up on that,” Heit said. “Sometimes it feels like yesterday, but obviously honoring the sacrifice that they made along with all the others that are on that list. It’s just a way to honor and never forget the sacrifice that was made.”

Heit says rifle squad will fire off a 21-gun salute, taps will be played, and the surviving family of police lost in Berrien County will be honored as part of the ceremony. The special guest speaker will be Our Lady of the Lake Athletic Director Phil McDonald.

The ceremony will be at 12 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, and everyone’s invited to come out and show their support for the men and women who make sacrifices to serve their community.

Below is a list of all the county’s law enforcement personnel who have been lost in the line of duty.

OUR HONORED OFFICERS:

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