On behalf of the Mattawan village administration and all officers of the Mattawan Police Department, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the acts of kindness which have been expressed during this very difficult time. 

All of the prayers, thoughts, words and memorials given have helped us deal with this unfortunate tragic event and the loss of our fellow officer, Scot Andrew Beyerstedt. 

We are extremely grateful for the assistance given by the emergency personnel who demonstrated a high level of excellence and professionalism in their response to the initial scene. We thank the Mattawan Fire Department for providing a location and refreshments for the community forum meeting and to the community in general for the outpouring of support. We also would like to extend our gratitude to the staff of Bronson Methodist Hospital for the treatment and care given to our officers. We are thankful that Officer Daniel Scott Hutchins will be able to return to full duty very soon. 

Words cannot express our deep appreciation to the Michigan Sheriff's Association for organizing the funeral arrangements for Officer Beyerstedt. Without their assistance, it would have been difficult to show the full honor to Officer Beyerstedt that he deserved. 

Of course, we also cannot forget to thank Heather Barr and Sue Dudycha for coming to our aid with the Victim Service Unit; Canteen Services for supplying nourishment at the funeral service; Todd Angood and the staff of Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren Funeral Home for their generosity provided with the funeral details. 

Our thanks also go to the MI-COPS organization and the personal contact that Lin Emmert provided to the family of Officer Beyerstedt and the officers of the Mattawan Police Department. Their support has been exceedingly valuable to each and every one of us. 

We want to extend our gratitude to the Michigan State Police for their assistance and for their investigative efforts. Sheriff Dale Gribler and officers of the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department also provided invaluable support. We gratefully acknowledge these fellow law enforcement officers. 

Finally, we would like to thank all of those who have expressed a desire to make a memorial contribution on behalf of Officer Beyerstedt. A scholarship fund has been established with the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation in his memory. The scholarship will benefit people seeking education at KVCC for a career in law enforcement. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to this fund may send their donations to: KVCC Foundation, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49003-4070. Please be sure to note that the contribution is in memory of Officer Scot Andrew Beyerstedt. All donations to this fund are tax deductible. 

Donald L. VerHage
Chief of the Mattawan Police Department