Jim Kesterke, Former Chief of Police in Berrien Springs

I live in a small town and it’s been great to have Jim Kesterke, (now retired) Chief of Police in my phone contacts.

While Jim was the chief, if I’d hear a siren or see a car accident and wonder if one of my members was involved, I knew that Jim would alert me.

Jim connected me with the county sheriff, Paul Bailey, who helped me serve the wider community by approving my applicaiton to visit in the local jail. Sheriff Bailey helped me get in (and out of) the jail to visit people even when the jail was closed to the pubic.

About 35 years ago, Jim was called to a domestic dispute and had to arrest a man in his home on Christmas Eve. Jim recalls that in that home, he saw no evidence of the joy of Christmas. That evening Jim and and his wife Sheri took some of their gifts and their Christmas turkey dinner to the home for the wife and child who was close to the age of their own daughter. This led to a community ministry called “Christmas Care “where more than 300 families are served each Christmas season with food and gifts. Jim and Sheri are a great blessing to this community.

I’ve been personally “blessed” by this friendship. ONCE, while driving through town, I received a phone call. Jim’s voice was on the other end saying, “This is Big Brother, you need to slow down.” Jim and I still quibble about this phone call.