Set for next Wednesday, May 15 is the annual memorial service for fallen police officers in Berrien County.

The event will be held at the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial Monument in downtown St. Joseph starting at noon. Berrien County Undersheriff Greg Sanders tells us 20 Berrien County officers who lost their lives in the line of duty will be remembered.

“We do have lots of community support here,” Sanders said. “Representatives from all agencies in Berrien County are represented. The prosecutor’s office, individuals from the Berrien County Court. It draws a good  crowd and we’re hoping for good weather every year.”

Sanders says the last time Berrien County lost any police officers was in 2016.

“Court Security Officer Ron Kienzle and Court Supervisor Joe Zangaro were the last two individuals that we lost in Berrien County, and that was July of 2016.”

Zangaro and Kienzle were killed when an inmate at the Berrien County Jail grabbed an officer’s gun while at the courthouse. The inmate was later killed by police.

At the memorial, the keynote speaker will be Berrien County Trial Court Judge Gordon Hosbein and there will be a 21-gun salute.

Everyone is invited to come out and show their support for the men and women who make sacrifices to serve their community.