1 of 25

ST. JOSEPH — Remembered as a hero, Joseph Zangaro was laid to rest following an emotional funeral service attended by approximately 1,400 people, including an estimated 800 public safety officers, Friday at Lake Michigan College.

Zangaro, a retired Michigan State Police Bridgman Post commander, was shot and killed by an inmate who was attempting to escape the Berrien County Courthouse where Zangaro worked as head of security on July 11.

The inmate, Larry Gordon, killed another court officer, Ronald Kienzle, 63, before Gordon was shot and killed by police.

Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey, who spoke at the funeral service, said his friend and colleague died a hero.

“He would say, ‘cry for a while and then go back to protecting the citizens of the country,’” Bailey said after the service, which was not open to media. “They (courthouse employees) are going to miss him every morning for quite some time, probably for as long as they work there. Every time they walk into the courthouse they will be thinking about Joe, and they’ll be thinking about Ron. We lost two good people.”

Michael Brown, commander of the Michigan State Police Fifth District, worked with Zangaro for more than two decades.

Brown said Zangaro was known for keeping his police vehicle so clean that there would not even be a speck of gravel on the floor.

“One of my fond memories was no trooper would ever touch his car because you paid the price if you got his car dirty,” Brown said. “His daughters were laughing about it because they couldn’t eat in the car — there were no French fries in the car.”

In addition to attracting a large number of police officers from across the state, Zangaro’s funeral was attended by county employees, local government officials and Congressman Fred Upton, who praised Zangaro, Kienzle and all the men and women who protect and serve.

“We really rely on our first responders in so many ways,” Upton said. “They don’t know how the day is going to end up. They don’t know if they will be coming home. This is a great show of support for them.”

Kienzle’s funeral is scheduled for today, also at Lake Michigan College.

More Berrien County

Pet of The Week: Hobbs, of Berrien County Animal Services

Speedway shooting suspect in court for preliminary hearing

$1.5 million in cocaine seized in Berrien County drug bust

United Way of Southwest Michigan’s Rake a Difference event serves 330+ seniors