Ronald E. Kienzle

Ronald E. KienzleBerrien County Trial Court

  • End of Watch: July 11, 2016

Court Officer Ronald Eugene Kienzle was shot and killed by an inmate inside the Berrien County Courthouse, St. Joseph, Michigan. The inmate was being escorted from his holding cell by a jail deputy when he began to fight with the deputy. The inmate was able to disarm the deputy and opened fire, killing Kienzle and Security Supervisor Joseph Zangaro. The inmate was shot and killed by other court officers a short time later.

Ron was born July 25, 1952 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He attended grade school at St. Matthew's Lutheran School, then attended Benton Harbor High School and graduated from the Police Academy at Lake Michigan College.  He also proudly served his country in the United States Army. Ron worked in law enforcement his entire adult life, first with the Benton Township police department, and most recently, at the Berrien County Trial Court as a court security officer.

Ronald Eugene Kienzle was laid to rest at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor, Michigan.


--Chriss Lyon