Governor Signs LaSata Bill To Honor Fallen Law Enforcement

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation from state Senator Kim LaSata to expand the state’s Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. LaSata’s office has released the following:

State Sen. Kim LaSata announced Thursday that legislation she introduced to allow the names of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, including court officers and corrections offers, to be added to the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Monument has been signed into law by the governor.

“This is a great day for Southwest Michigan and for all communities desiring to honor the lives of our brave court officers who pay the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said LaSata, R-Bainbridge Township. “I thank Gov. Whitmer for signing this important bill and appreciate the strong support it has received from law enforcement and residents alike. Finally, our fallen heroes can get the recognition they deserve.”

Senate Bill 321, which is now Public Act 215 of 2020, aligns the Michigan monument standard with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial standard. The law also allows reserve officers killed in the line of duty to be eligible for recognition on the memorial.

With the new law in place, the names of Security Supervisor Joseph P. Zangaro and Court Officer Ronald Kienzle are eligible to be added to the state monument. In 2016, Zangaro and Kienzle were shot and killed by an inmate inside the Berrien County Courthouse. Zangaro had previously served as a Michigan State Police officer for 25 years and Kienzle was retired from the Benton Charter Township Police Department.

Zangaro’s and Kienzle’s names are already included on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the Berrien County Law Enforcement Memorial in St. Joseph, Michigan.