Former Constantine police chief laid to rest

A former police chief in Constantine who previously worked for the Michigan State Police was laid to rest last week amid full police honors.
Police representatives from Centreville, Colon, Constantine, Mendon, Portage and surrounding areas joined lawyers, judges and other public officials to pay homage to Det. Sgt. Jim Bedell at Trinity Missionary Church in Constantine.
Rev. Dennis Smith, pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church, officiated at the service. In honor of the 63-year-old Bedell, Constantine’s DPW, village and police offices were closed for the day and flags were flown at half-staff at the schools.
Students at Riverside Elementary school and the middle school were given small American flags and dismissed to line South Washington Street to watch an honorary police procession.
Bedell joined the Michigan State Police in 1974, serving at the White Pigeon, Battle Creek, and Owosso posts, retiring in 1999 with the rank of Detective Sergeant.
He earned three meritorious awards during his career. In addition he earned an award for bravery for pulling two people out of a building.
Bedell came out of retirement to become chief of the Constantine police department in 2009.