The atmosphere inside the Dowagiac Elks Lodge was a bit bluer than usual Thursday afternoon.

This was not because of low spirits of the people inside, mind you, but because of the color of the uniforms worn by many of those sitting inside the dining room during the Dowagiac Rotary Club Meeting.

More than a dozen current and retired officers with the Dowagiac Police Department came out to the lunchtime meeting of the local service organization, as its members honored one of the department’s most seasoned veterans: officer James Kusa.

The officer, a 39-year veteran of the force, was recognized as the latest recipient of the Dowagiac Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow award, which is awarded to Rotarians or members of the public who go above and beyond for the public.

No one who has gotten to know Kusa over his many years of service to the Dowagiac community would have any qualms about him receiving such an award.

Besides his continuing duties as a protector of Dowagiac neighborhoods, Kusa also volunteers his time for causes like Shop with a Cop, and helps teach children through programs at Southwestern Michigan College.

But most importantly, almost no one he has encountered, be it in uniform or not, has ever had a bad thing to say about Kusa.

As noted by Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald in his introduction for Kusa Thursday, the officer’s recognition by the service club is especially poignant, given how U.S. police officers have come under attack — both figuratively and literally, as demonstrated by the shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge in recent weeks.

While there are certainly arguments that could be made that the approach police take to law enforcement in some communities, that is not the case in Dowagiac.

Our officers strive to treat citizens they are tasked with protecting with the respect and dignity they deserve — and officers like James Kusa are large reason for that reputation.

We congratulate Kusa for his recognition, and thank the Dowagiac Rotary Club for taking the time to honor one of the unsung heroes of our community. Civil servants like him are a large reason why Dowagiac continues to be a wonderful place to live.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.