The eight Michigan police officers who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2016 and 2017 were honored at the Annual Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, May 13th at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The Michigan Attorney General's office shared the stories of the Michigan police officers who gave their lives:

  • Joseph Peter Zangaro of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department was 61. He was head of security for the Berrien County Courthouse and was killed when a prisoner disarmed an officer and fired at bailiffs. Zangaro had worked in the Courthouse since May 2004.  Zangaro was a retired Michigan State Police First Lieutenant and is survived by his wife, two daughters, and grandchildren, as well as his mother, sister, and nephew.
  • Ronald E. Kienzle of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department was 63. He was a bailiff at the Berrien County Courthouse and was killed when a prisoner disarmed an officer while entering a courtroom and fired at bailiffs. Kienzle had been with the Berrien County trial court since April 2005 after retiring as a sergeant from the Benton Charter Township Police Department. He previously served in the United States Army. Kienzle is survived by his two daughters and grandchildren.
  • Michael Arthur Winter of the Branch County Sheriff’s Department was 39. He was a Branch County Deputy assigned to the sheriff’s posse who was riding in the Quincy Memorial Day Parade when his horse bucked, causing Winter to fall to the ground, hitting his head. Winter had been a deputy with the sheriff's office and a member of the mounted patrol for five years. He was also a veteran of the United States Navy. Winter is survived by his wife and daughters.
  • Kenneth Melvin Steil of the Detroit Police Department was 46. He was shot in the shoulder area while pursuing a suspect who was believed to have already shot his father and been involved in carjackings.  He was a 20-year veteran of the department and is survived by his wife and two boys.
  • Kevin Dwayne Miller of the Detroit Police Department was 49. He suffered a fatal heart attack while attending firearms training at the Detroit Police Department's Rouge Range. Other officers at the range immediately began CPR before he was transported to a local hospital. Sergeant Miller had served with the Detroit Police Department for 29 years and was assigned to the 11th Precinct.
  • Myron Anthony Jarrett of the Detroit Police Department was 40. He was killed in a hit-and-run accident during a routine traffic stop. He was an eight-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department and a father of four.
  • Collin James Rose of the Wayne State University Police Department was 29. He was shot in the head while investigating possible thefts of navigation systems from vehicles. Rose was engaged to be married.
  • Jon Ginka of the Norton Shores Police Department was 34. He fell victim to a fatal crash involving his cruiser in Norton Shores. Ginka was a 10-year veteran of the force and leaves behind a wife and two children.

The Michigan Attorney General's office also recognized Detroit policeman, Officer Waldis Johnson, who continues to fight for his life after being shot on April 30, 2017 while responding to a domestic violence call.

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