Exactly 24 hours after two bailiffs were shot and killed inside the Berrien County Courthouse, thousands of people stood in silence in the parking lot outside to honor the two men.

Police vehicles then led the thousands of people on a walk from the courthouse on Port Street to the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial in St. Joseph Tuesday afternoon.

Many of the walkers stopped along the way to give a police officer a hug or a handshake, or simply to say, “thank you” for the oftentimes-dangerous work they do.

Joseph Zangaro, 61, and Ron Kienzle, 63, were retired officers who by all accounts were well respected among law enforcement across the county.

Zangaro was a former post commander with the Michigan State Police Bridgman Post and Kienzle was a sergeant with the Benton Charter Township Police Department.

The two were shot and killed Monday afternoon by an inmate who had disarmed another officer during an apparent escape attempt. The inmate was shot and killed by police.

Another officer, James Atterberry, Jr., 41, and a citizen were also injured, but not fatally.

 

Remembering heroes

Berrien County Commissioner Jim Curran said he worked at the Michigan State Police when Zangaro was post commander.

“He was tenacious. When I learned what happened, it didn’t surprise me at all with Joe. If there was trouble, he was going to it,” he said. “He wasn’t going to go away from it. If he thought on the other side of the door someone would need his help, he would be on his way there.”

Niles City Manager Ric Huff, a former Niles police chief, said he worked with Zangaro for nearly 30 years, sitting on several boards together and cooperating on investigations.

“We greeted each other at the courthouse just two weeks ago and talked about some of our past experiences,” Huff said. “I will sincerely miss his friendship and friendly greeting at the courthouse.”

Buchanan Police Chief Bill Marx described Zangaro and Kienzle as “true, good police” who died doing what they had signed on to do — protect and serve the citizens of Berrien County.

“Although Berrien County is 545 square miles, it is one big police community,” he said. “We wear different uniforms but we basically all know each other. To have these circumstances occur like they did was extremely tragic and has affected a lot of us. They pursued a true mission of what law enforcement is about.”

Berrien Springs Police Chief Paul Toliver said Zangaro and Kienzle are “heroes who deserve to be honored for their supreme sacrifice.”

“That is what the public needs to understand and I believe they do,” he said. “That describes the type of people they were. They put their lives on the line and that is something that needs to be honored and appreciated.”

 

Looking for answers

The shooter was identified as 45-year-old Larry Darnell Gordon, a Coloma resident who was awaiting court appearances on several charges. Police said Gordon, who was handcuffed in the front, somehow disarmed Atterberry after an “extensive” struggle. Gordon used the gun during the incident.

Although it is unlikely police will ever truly know why Gordon did what he did, Curran speculated that Gordon’s motivation was to not go back to prison.

“When a person makes up their mind, they always have that one-up on the cop. The cops don’t know that he is going to be violent, and then suddenly you’re in reactionary mode,” he said. “There’s nothing to give you any clue. You don’t expect it. When it happens, it definitely catches you off guard. I think they did everything they could have done. It’s one of those that it just turns tragic instead of a happy ending.”

Huff praised the work that court officers and deputies do, saying they are not the cushy “retirement” jobs that some might believe.

“They are responsible for the movement of very dangerous individuals who are highly motived to escape justice and these activities are carried out daily without an incident because of their skill,” he said. “Then tragedy strikes searing a painful reminder into our souls that we shouldn’t take the security that these individuals offer on a daily basis for granted.”