Previously Held Specialties CRP-Courtroom Police Unit
Service Years
1981 - 2016
Official Badges
Police Awards and Commendations
Federal Awards
Not Specified
Departmental Awards
Not Specified
Other Languages
Not Specified
Prior Military Service
Not Specified
Last Photo
Personal Details
Home State
Michigan
Year of Birth 1954
This Military Service Page was created/owned by
LT Edwin Sierra (U-200)
to remember
Zangaro, Joseph, CSO.
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Security Supervisor Joseph Zangaro Berrien County Trial Court, Michigan EOW: Monday, July 11, 2016
Age: 61 Tour: 35 years Badge # Not available Cause: Gunfire Incident Date: Monday, July 11, 2016 Weapon: Officer's handgun Suspect: Shot and killed
Security Supervisor Joe Zangaro and Court Officer Ron Kienzle were shot and killed inside the Berrien County Courthouse by an inmate who was attempting to escape at approximately 2:25 pm.
A court officer and a Berrien County sheriff's deputy were in the process of removing the prisoner from a holding cell in a corridor behind a courtroom when the man attacked them. The prisoner was able to disarm one of the officers and opened fire, striking them both. The man escaped into a public hallway where he shot a civilian and exchanged shots with two other court officers, striking one of them, before being killed by return gunfire.
The inmate was in court for two counts of criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and domestic assault.
Security Supervisor Zangaro had served as the Berrien County Trial Court's director of security for 10 years after having retired from the Michigan State Police after 25 years.
Comments/Citation:
More than 1,500 attend funeral for Berrien County Courthouse bailiff
BENTON HARBOR, MI More than 800 law enforcement officers from as far away as Chicago were among more than 1,500 people to gather Friday afternoon to celebrate the life of Berrien County bailiff Joseph Zangara.
The 61-year-old was one of four people shot "two fatally" by a jail inmate Monday, July 11, at the Berrien County Courthouse.
His funeral service was the first to be held. A service for bailiff Ronald Kienzle, 63, is scheduled for Monday. Like Friday's service, it is also to be held at the Mendel Center at Lake Michigan College.
Zangaro and Kienzle were shot and killed Monday afternoon while trying to prevent jail inmate Larry Darnell Gordon, 44, of Coloma, from escaping from a holding cell area inside the Berrien County Courthouse.
Gordon apparently grabbed a gun from a sheriff's deputy but was shot and killed by responding bailiffs and other deputies during the 2:15 p.m. incident.
