For the first time in more than 30 years local law enforcement will be unable to conduct their Annual Berrien County Peace Officer’s Memorial Day Service, which had been slated for this coming Friday, May 15th.
Retired St. Joseph Public Safety Officer Deniece Fisher, who serves as Vice President of the Blossomland Lodge #100 of the Fraternal Order of Police, says, “It is with great sadness that for the first time in over 30 years, we will be unable to hold the service,” and adds, “This decision was not taken lightly but due to the current situation involving the pandemic, we felt that it was in the best interest of the families of our fallen officers, the first responders and all of those who attend the annual event.”
One of the most dedicated public servants to ever emerge from the ranks of the St. Joseph Police Department, Fisher promises, “We will never forget the sacrifices made by our fallen brothers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving the communities in which they served. Their families will never be forgotten for the sacrifices they have made due to the loss of their loved one.”
Fisher adds, “We hope you will remember all of the fallen Law Enforcement officers and their families not only on May 15th but every day,” and quotes from the Bible, “Blessed are the Peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.”
She and her colleagues look forward to seeing everyone at the annual service in 2021.
These are the Fallen Officers whose names appear on the monument in Lake Bluff Park in St. Joseph:
Our Fallen
- 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
