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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac community is in mourning following the passing of a prominent community member.

Retired Dowagiac Deputy Chief David “Toxy” Toxopeus passed away Saturday, Nov. 23, according to the Dowagiac Police Department.

Deputy Chief Toxopeus began his time at the Dowagiac Police Department in October of 1994. During his time he was a patrol officer and was promoted to Detective in 1997. Toxopeus  was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2003, and was placed as commander of the newly formed Cass County Drug Enforcement Team. Toxopeus was instrumental in the success of CCDET and helped build a strong unit that aggressively enforced narcotics within Cass County as well as worked on major crimes such as homicides and robberies, and still does today.  In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of Police. He remained in that role until his retirement in April of 2022.  

“Toxy served the community of Dowagiac and Cass County for 27 ½ years with dedication and honor,” stated the Dowagiac Police Department in a Facebook post. “He was always available and would drop what he was doing to respond in a moment’s notice when needed. He was a great leader and mentor to the officers he served with and has definitely left his mark on the history of the Dowagiac Police Department and Cass County. He could always be counted on to get the job done and give his all no matter what he was tasked with. He could also always be counted on to ‘poke’ the Michigan and Notre Dame fan fellow officers whenever his beloved Spartans would beat them.  

“Although the last few years have been difficult, he was always willing and wanting to talk about what was going on with the department and the officers working here, until that was no longer possible,” the post continued. “Toxy will be missed by his DPD family as well as his own family.  We are happy that he is no longer in pain but very sad to lose our Brother and Friend. We are proud and honored to have served with Toxy and will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.”