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Berrien County
Sheriff's
Department
Reserve Division
Web Page Hosted by Tim Richards
Reserve
Captain 
Sheriff L. Paul Bailey
Undersheriff Chuck
Heit
Chief Deputy Samuel
Harris
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission statement of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department
is to enforce the laws of the State and County, safeguard life and
property, prevent and detect crime, preserve the peace, and protect
the rights of all citizens. We will serve all citizens with
fairness, integrity, respect, and compassion without discrimination
of any person or
groups.
INDEX:
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About Berrien County
Berrien County is located in the Southwestern most corner of
Michigan. The county encompasses over 585 square miles in area
with a population of 163,000 residents in over 63,000
households. The county includes 58 inland lakes, three rivers,
and 42 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The major
metropolitan areas include the cities of Niles, Benton Harbor, and
St. Joseph. The county has a long history of agriculture,
manufacturing, and tourism.
Located in St. Joseph, the
Berrien County Sheriff's Department is comprised of several
divisions. The Jail Division is comprised of 78 sworn Jail
staff and operates a facility capable of handling over 340
inmates. The Road Patrol Division operates with 26 Deputies
providing 24-hour coverage throughout the county. The
Department also includes a Detective Bureau, Marine Division,
Narcotics Unit, Tactical Response Unit, Bomb Squad, HAZMAT Response
Team, Underwater Dive Team, Emergency Management Division, Crime
Prevention Unit, Mounted Division of 26 Deputies, and a Reserve Unit
with 40 Reserve Deputies.
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Berrien County Sheriff's Reserve
Division
Officer-in-Charge: Sgt. Tim Ganus
Assistant
Officer-in-Charge: Deputy Steve Campbell
Reserve
Captain: Tim Richards
Reserve Lieutenants: Sgt. Robert
Clubs, Ken Jewell, Dick Mann
Reserve Sergeants: Jim LaRoux,
Duane Miller, Tom Dumminger, Earl Osban
The Reserve Unit was formed in
1977, in response to a new Michigan law which required that all
persons must have training before they could perform Law Enforcement
duties for the Sheriff's Office. The first Reserve School was
held at Lake Michigan College. Thirty-six Reserve Graduates
served under Sheriff Nick Jewell.
The first duties performed by
the Unit were to provide extra security for the Blossom Parade and
for the Berrien County Youth Fair. In addition to these two
important county events, they now monitor over 20 different summer
events and provide security for the Silver Beach County Park.
They also assist the Crime Prevention Unit with community education
programs. They may be called upon to help search for lost
children or missing persons. In addition, the Unit works
side-by-side with full-time Deputies on Road Patrol, in the Jail,
and in the 911 Central Dispatch.
Reserve responsibilities have
been expanded to provide crime scene security, property checks, and
VIP security details in conjunction with regular Deputies. In
2004, the Unit assisted with security during visits by President
George W. Bush and again when Vice President Cheney toured the
area. The Reserve Unit also works with the
Emergency Management Unit and with the Emergency Operations
Center providing security during drills and exercises involving two
nearby nuclear plants. This activity not only provides
valuable assistance during exercises but it also serves as training
should an emergency situation arise.
Berrien County Sheriff's
Reserve Deputies are required to complete a 72-hour training academy
spread over 12 weeks to prepare the individual to work with other
Law Enforcement agencies. Upon completion of the training
period, the Reserve Deputy is required to serve a minimum of eight
hours per month of active duty, and three hours of training per
month. In 2004, the Reserve Division worked over 9,000 man
hours serving the citizens of Berrien County.
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Berrien County Sheriff Reserves
Fingerprint Over 500 Children
(Photographs taken
and provided by Captain Tim Richards)
The Berrien County Sheriff's
Department again participated in the annual "Kid's Fair 2005" on
Saturday, October 15 at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center in
Benton Harbor. 
Photo
right: (Left to right): Sergeant Dumminger,
Deputy Staneart, Deputy McKie, Deputy Clubs, and Captain
Richards.
The Sheriff's Department booth
was manned by members of the Reserve Division who fingerprinted
children of all ages and handed out Child ID Kits to parents and
Junior Deputy Badge stickers to the children. The number of
children fingerprinted and identified was estimated at over
500. 
Photo
left: Deputies Clubs and McKie fingerprint
children shile Deputy Staneart explains the hild ID program to the
parents. 
Photo
right: Deputy Clubs fingerprints local
children.
Photo
left: Sergeant LaRoux fills out Child ID Cards
prior to fingerprinting.
The annual Kid's Fair is
sponsored by the Radio Stations of the Michigan's Great Southwest in
conjunction with the Watervliet Community Hospital. The event
hosted 29 exhibitors which included local Fire Departments, health
organizations, emergency services, and children's
organizations.
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Visit the impressive web
site of Michigan's Berrien County Sheriff's Department at www.bcsheriff.org.
WEB AUTHOR NOTE: NRLO is
proud to introduce the Berrien County Sheriff's Reserve Unit to its
readers. Be sure to check back often for more information and
photographs from this fine Reserve Unit.
NATIONAL RESERVE LAW
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 6505 SAN
ANTONIO, TX 78209 (210)
805-8917 | 
